Bhagavad Gita 1.23 is Chapter 1, Verse 23, in Arjuna Vishada Yoga (Arjuna's Dilemma). Below are the Sanskrit text, a transliteration, a plain-English translation and an explanation.
yotsyamānān avekṣe 'haṁ ya ete 'tra samāgatāḥ dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddher yuddhe priya-cikīrṣavaḥ
"Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra."
What This Means:
Arjuna still sees this simply: Duryodhana ('evil-minded') has assembled people to fight for his selfish cause. He hasn't yet grasped that these 'people' include his own teachers, uncles, and cousins.
Going Deeper:
Arjuna uses 'durbuddhi' (evil-minded) for Duryodhana, a judgment that's partially true but incomplete. When he actually sees the army, his black-and-white view will crumble.
How To Apply This:
It's easy to demonize opposing leaders. But their followers often have complex motivations, duty, loyalty, fear, circumstance. Understanding this doesn't excuse wrong, but it deepens understanding.
Key Sanskrit Terms: