This passage reflects some important principles that are relevant to human psychology. The verse speaks of the army of the Pandavas, that consists of heroic bowmen who are equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna. The mention of these great fighters implies that in every society, there are people who possess “extraordinary skills or capabilities” that distinguish them from the ordinary. Often, these people are regarded as role models, and their actions are emulated by others.

Extraordinary skills or capabilities: refers to exceptional abilities that someone possesses which set them apart from others in their field or area of expertise. In psychology, these skills are often attributed to a combination of innate talent and deliberate practice. The concept is based on the principle that some individuals are born with innate talents or natural abilities that can be honed and improved upon through deliberate and focused practice. Examples of people with extraordinary skills could include virtuoso musicians, Olympic athletes, or savants with exceptional abilities in areas such as mathematics or memory recall. The science of psychology has shown that with the right amount of deliberate practice, individuals can develop exceptional skills and capabilities even if they do not possess innate talent or natural abilities in a particular area.

By David Sack, M.D., is board certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine:

 We can all name extraordinary people who have touched us—a teacher who made us feel seen, a relative who helped us believe in our dreams, a friend who created a circle of acceptance wide enough for all. Those we deem extraordinary can’t be narrowed to a single profile, but their lives are likely to include five vital ingredients:

1. A focus on the things that matter: Evolution has set us up to feel that we must accumulate more—more money, more things, more sexual partners. But evolution never promised us those things would make us happy. And, indeed, studies show they don’t. Even money goes only so far. While we certainly feel less anxiety with economic stability, abundance can backfire, affecting our ability to appreciate everyday pleasures. (By the way, the optimum number of sexual partners for happiness? Research puts it at one.). The extraordinary person knows it’s the intrinsic qualities that bring true satisfaction—those that satisfy our needs for emotional intimacy and personal growth. Focusing on extrinsic goals, by contrast—things such as physical attractiveness, wealth and fame—not only doesn’t satisfy us, it can damage our well-being by setting us up to feel that what we have is never enough. The extraordinary ordinary people seem to know instinctively the folly of joining the crowd on the hamster wheel. Instead, they are content to keep their focus on “being” rather than “having.”
2. Kindness: Not long ago, I read a news article about a school crossing guard whom a whole community had honored. Why? Because he was kind. He knew the kids by name. He talked to them about their days. If one walked through his crosswalk with birthday balloons one year he remembered their birthday the next. We all know people like this. They are special because they have the gift of making others feel special. And the nice thing about kindness is it works both ways. It’s lovely to be on the receiving end, but multiple studies confirm it feels even nicer to do kind things for others.
3. A willingness to be seen as imperfect: It’s not that extraordinary people never fail; but they’re the ones who put themselves out there despite their failures. Noted author and lecturer Brené Brown, Ph.D., writes eloquently of this in her book Daring Greatly: “When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that may not be recoverable, we squander our precious time, and we turn our backs on our gifts, those unique contributions that only we can make.” Those who are willing to reach for the extraordinary understand that criticism and rejection are the price we sometimes pay for trying, that we all have fear, and that defeat doesn’t equal unworthiness. This willingness to be vulnerable gives them the freedom to pursue their dreams and tap into their creative powers. By extension, this mindset creates a safe place for those in their orbit, so that they can feel inspired to give it their best shot, too.
4. An ability to connect: A famous research project called the Grant Study has followed every aspect of the lives of 268 men from the 1930s to this day. A few years ago, the longtime director of the study, George Vaillant, was asked what he had learned from the mountains of data. His response? “That the only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people.” Extraordinary people understand this; that’s why they make others a priority. They are the ones who remember our names, ask us questions and care about the answers, and leave us feeling heard and valued. Extraordinary people also connect with themselves, paying attention to their feelings and respecting their needs, just as they do for those around them.
5. Joyfulness: We spend our lives aiming for happiness, but how many of us really let it in when it arrives? Instead, we temper our joy, feeling we somehow don’t deserve it, or that it won’t last, or that we are somehow jinxing ourselves by acknowledging it. If you’ve ever felt your heart swell with joy as you look at a loved one only to instantly imagine tragedy befalling them, or received a promotion only to worry that your company’s faith has been misplaced, you know what I mean.

The antidote for this reaction is gratitude, as the extraordinary ones among us know. They aren’t fooling themselves; they know that joy ebbs and flows, but they welcome what they get, allow themselves to feel worthy of their share, and seek it in the most ordinary moments—where it is most often found.

Another principle that can be inferred from the verse is the importance of “self-esteem” and “self-confidence”.

Self-esteem: refers to an individual’s overall sense of self-worth and value as a person. It is an internal belief that people hold about themselves, and it greatly affects their thoughts, emotions and behaviors. A person with high self-esteem has a positive self-image and believes that they are capable, worthy and deserving of love and respect. They exude confidence and are more resilient to life’s challenges. However, individuals with low self-esteem tend to have negative self-perceptions and may feel insecure, worthless or incapable. This affects their mental and emotional well-being and can lead to self-doubt, anxiety and depression. It is important for individuals to work on building and maintaining a healthy level of self-esteem, as it forms the foundation for their success and happiness in life. Self-confidence is defined as an individual’s trust in their own abilities, capacities, and judgments, or belief that they can successfully face day-to-day challenges and demands. It is a belief in oneself and a conviction that one has the ability to meet life’s challenges and to succeed. Self-confidence is similar to self-efficacy, but it tends to focus on an individual’s perceptions of overall capability, while self-efficacy focuses on an individual’s beliefs about their abilities concerning a specific task or set of tasks1. Self-confidence brings about more happiness and motivates individuals to take action and achieve their goals.

Those mentioned in the army were not only great fighters, but they were also acknowledged for their prowess. This acknowledgement by Duryodhana, implies the boosting of the morale, self-confidence, and self-esteem of the army of the Pandavas. Studies in psychology have revealed that individuals who have high self-esteem and self-confidence tend to perform better in various tasks, have better relationships, and overall mental health.

The passage also highlights the benefits of competition in human psychology. The army mentioned could be viewed as a team of individuals motivated to beat the opponent. Such competition tends to amplify individual skills, enhances motivation, and fosters team cohesion. Furthermore, the competitive environment often leads to improved organizational culture, which subsequently leads to higher productivity and job satisfaction.

In the Purport Srila Prabhupada speaks to an important principle in human psychology – the power of comparison.  Duryodhana compares each of his opponents to Bhima and Arjuna, two great warriors in Vedic History. The comparison stems from Duryodhana’s fear of defeat and highlights an important principle – the impact of comparison in shaping our perceptions and actions.

Comparison is a potent force in human psychology. Research shows that individuals are deeply influenced by comparisons with others and can be motivated or demotivated as a result. For example, studies suggest that individuals who compare themselves to others, on social media platforms have higher levels of depression and anxiety. Similarly, athletes may be motivated or demotivated by comparisons with their peers or by their past performance. In the context of the Bhagavad-Gita, Duryodhana is motivated by his fear of defeat and uses Bhima and Arjuna as his benchmark for assessment of his opponents.

The comparison principle is also linked to the concept of “social comparison theory”, Social comparison theory, centers on the belief that there is a drive within individuals to gain accurate self-evaluations. The theory explains how individuals evaluate their own opinions and abilities by comparing themselves to others in order to reduce uncertainty in these domains, and learn how to define the self. Comparing oneself to others socially is a form of measurement and self-assessment to identify where an individual stands according to their own set of standards and emotions about themselves.  Following the initial theory, research began to focus on social comparison as a way of self-enhancement, introducing the concepts of downward and upward comparisons and expanding the motivations of social comparisons. Social comparison revealed the assessment of one’s own status is dependent on the group with whom one compares oneself. The social comparison theory is the belief that media influence, social status, and other forms of competitiveness can affect our self-esteem and mood. In turn, this can affect individuals outlook on themselves and how they fit in with others. 

 In the case of Duryodhana, he uses the comparison with Bhima and Arjuna to evaluate the strength of his opponents and to adjust his strategy accordingly.

Moreover, the comparison principle is also related to the concept of “cognitive biases”, such as the availability heuristic or the “anchoring effect”.

The psychology of cognitive biasess: refers to the way our thinking can be influenced by unconscious biases and assumptions, leading us to make flawed judgments and decisions. These biases can impact our understanding of information, shaping the way we process and interpret it. They can also affect our behaviors and attitudes towards others, resulting in stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. Recognizing cognitive biases can help individuals become more aware of their thinking and decision-making processes, allowing them to be more rational and objective in their reasoning. This is particularly important in fields such as business, politics, and law, where decisions must be made based on reliable and objective information. By understanding and addressing these biases, individuals can improve their communication skills and decision-making abilities, leading to more positive and productive outcomes in their personal and professional lives. The anchoring effect: describes how people rely too heavily on the first piece of information they receive when making decisions or judgments. This initial information, or “anchor,” becomes the starting point that influences subsequent decisions, even if the anchor is arbitrary or irrelevant. The anchoring effect can occur in various contexts, from negotiating prices to evaluating the likelihood of an event happening. This bias can have significant implications, as it can lead to people making suboptimal decisions or undervaluing potential options if they are compared to a higher anchor. To mitigate the effects of the anchoring bias, self-awareness and effortful thinking are necessary to recognize when an anchor is present and to consider alternative viewpoints or sources of information before making a decision. These biases refer to the tendency of the human mind to rely on easily accessible or relevant information, or to anchor judgments on initial or prominent data. For example, in the case of Duryodhana, he anchors his assessment of his opponents on the strength of Bhima and Arjuna, disregarding other factors that may influence the outcome of the battle. This cognitive bias may lead to overconfidence or underestimation of risks, and may impact our decision-making and behavior.  Cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking, affecting how we process information, perceive others, and make decisions1. It can lead to irrational thoughts or judgments and is often based on our perceptions, memories, or individual and societal beliefs12.

In conclusion, the Purport by Srila Prabhupada highlights an important principle in human psychology – the power of comparison. Comparison is a potent force that can shape our perceptions, motivations, and behavior. It is influenced by multiple factors, such as social comparison theory, cognitive biases, or cultural norms. The impact of comparison varies across individuals and contexts, and it may have positive or negative effects. Therefore, it is essential to understand the role of comparison in our lives and to use it wisely. As Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad-Gita (6.5),

“One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.”

This Verse highlights essential principles that can help understand human psychology. High-performing individuals or role models, the importance of self-confidence and self-esteem and the positive effects of competition are principles that should be studied and applied in various contexts, including academic, occupational and personal settings.