Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 9 For Kids with Age-by-Age Activities

A war is about to begin. Two mighty armies stand face to face on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The air is thick with tension, and among the Kauravas, their leader, Duryodhana, walks confidently, listing out the warriors fighting for him. He believes that having the strongest fighters ensures victory.

But does it?

In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 9, Duryodhana’s words reveal something deeper—not just confidence, but arrogance, a reliance on brute force, and a failure to see beyond physical power.

This verse isn’t just about war; it’s a lesson in leadership, wisdom, and misplaced trust.

But how do we make this ancient wisdom meaningful for children?

Instead of just reading about it, let’s help them experience it through unique, age-specific activities that challenge their thinking in unexpected ways.

Click here for an article with links to activities for other chapters and verses.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 9

The Verse in Sanskrit and English Translation

Original Sanskrit Verse

अन्ये च बहव: शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविता: |

नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणा: सर्वे युद्धविशारदा: || 9||

Transliteration

anye cha bahavaḥ śhūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ
nānā-śhastra-praharaṇāḥ sarve yuddha-viśhāradāḥ

Word-by-word English Translation of the Verse

First line

अन्ये (anye): Others

च (cha): also

बहव: (bahavaḥ): many

शूरा (śhūrā): heroic warriors

मदर्थे (madarthe): For my sake

त्यक्तजीविता: (tyaktajīvitāḥ): laying down their lives

Second line

नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणा (nānā-śhastra-praharaṇāḥ): Various weapons and ammunition

सर्वे (sarve): all

युद्धविशारदा: (yuddha-viśhāradāḥ): skilled in warfare

Translation in Simple Words

“There are many other heroes also, who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. They are all armed with various weapons and experienced in warfare.”

This verse highlights Duryodhana’s confidence (or should we say arrogance?) as he lists the warriors who will fight for him. He believes their strength is enough to guarantee victory. \

But is power alone enough?

We’ll explore this verse through innovative, hands-on activities tailored to different age groups.

These activities go beyond passive learning—they’ll immerse kids in the concepts of leadership, wisdom, and decision-making in unforgettable ways.

For Ages 1-3: “The Strongest or the Smartest?” – A Toddler-Friendly Strength Test

The Activity:

At this age, toddlers love lifting, pulling, and testing their physical abilities—so let’s turn that into a lesson about wisdom vs. strength.

1. Set up two objects:
   • A heavy box (too big for them to lift).
   • A small, easy-to-hold toy (light enough to carry).
2. Encourage them: “Can you carry the big box?” Most will try and struggle.
3. Then ask: “What about this one?” Hand them the small toy.
4. Praise them for choosing the lighter object, then say:
   • “See? You don’t always need big muscles. The smartest choice is sometimes the easiest one!”
5. If they keep trying to lift the big box, introduce a new way to solve the problem:
   • Can they push it instead of lifting it?
   • Can they ask for help?
   • Can they put something under it to roll it?
6. When they find a solution, celebrate it! 🎉

What They Learn:

✔ Raw strength isn’t always the best way to win (Duryodhana thought it was).
✔ Thinking, adapting, and asking for help are also forms of strength (Krishna’s approach).
✔ Sometimes, small choices are smarter than big struggles.

This activity allows even the youngest minds to start experiencing the lesson rather than just hearing it.

For Ages 3-6: “The Empty Treasure” – A Surprise Experiment

The Activity:

Children this age love surprises, so let’s use that excitement to challenge their understanding of what is truly valuable.

1. Take two identical-looking boxes.
   • Box 1: Fill with shiny but useless things (aluminum foil, plastic gems, fake gold coins).
   • Box 2: Fill with something meaningful but simple (a heartfelt note, a small mirror, or a photo of loved ones).
2. Let them choose a box—most will pick the shiny one.
3. After they open it, ask:
   • “Which one looked more powerful?”
   • “Which one was actually more valuable?”
4. Relate this to Duryodhana: He thought his warriors made him powerful, but he lacked wisdom—the real treasure.

🎯 Lesson:

• True strength isn’t always what looks impressive.
• We need wisdom to see what is truly valuable.

For Ages 7-10: “The Loyalty Test” – A Social Experiment

The Activity:

Duryodhana’s warriors were willing to fight for him—but did they question if he was right? Let’s test how blind loyalty works in real life.

1. Choose a trusted older sibling, cousin, or parent to be the “leader.”
2. Give them a secret mission: Instruct them to ask the kids to do things that start off fun but become questionable.
   • “Clap your hands!” (Easy)
   • “Jump on one foot!” (Still fun)
   • “Give me your favorite toy.” (Wait, what?)
   • “Don’t talk to anyone else.” (Uh-oh…)
3. Stop the game and ask:
   • “Why did you follow? Because you trusted them?”
   • “At what point did it feel wrong?”
   • “Would you have followed if they were a stranger?”

🎯 Lesson:

• Loyalty without wisdom can be dangerous.
• Just because someone is strong doesn’t mean they’re right.

For Ages 11-14: “The Invisible Army” – A Psychological Experiment

The Activity:

Duryodhana thought his army was his greatest strength. But what if you could have an army no one can see?

1. Tell them: “You have to face a challenge today. You get to choose: a visible army (your friends) or an invisible army (a list of lessons, strategies, and advice from wise people).”
2. Give them a real-life puzzle, riddle, or escape-room-style problem to solve.
3. Let one group use physical help (friends). The other group can only use “invisible help”—wisdom written down beforehand.
4. Which group succeeds faster? Discuss:
   • “Did you feel weaker without a visible army?”
   • “What is more powerful—muscles or mind?”

🎯 Lesson:

• Duryodhana relied on physical strength; Krishna relied on wisdom. Who won?
• An army can be made of knowledge, not just warriors.

For Ages 15+: “The Arrogance Auction” – A Power Game

The Activity:

Duryodhana overestimated his power and lost everything. Let’s put teens in a similar high-stakes decision-making scenario.

1. Give each participant fake money (or points).
2. Hold an “auction” where they can “buy” different things:
   • “A loud, commanding voice”
   • “A strong, muscular body”
   • “The ability to think three moves ahead”
   • “The wisdom of an ancient guru”
3. At the end, reveal the challenge:
   • They must win a negotiation with you.
   • Only those who bought wisdom and strategy can win.
4. Discuss:
   • “Did you focus on external power or internal power?”
   • “Would Duryodhana have won if he had chosen differently?”

🎯 Lesson:

• Arrogance makes us buy the wrong things in life.
• True power isn’t loud—it’s strategic.

Final Thoughts: Making Bhagavad Gita Personal

These age-specific activities make Bhagavad Gita 1.9 a real-world experience instead of just a lecture.

• Young kids learn that shiny things aren’t always valuable.
• Older kids discover that blind loyalty is risky.
• Teens experience arrogance firsthand—and learn its cost.

This is how we make ancient wisdom truly unforgettable.