Gita : Ch-1. Slo-20.





Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-1.( Arjuna-vishada-yogam )


Slokam-20. (  O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrshikesa [Krishna] these words:)




Atha   vyavasthitan    drushtva    dharttarashtran   kapidhvajah,


Pravyatte   sastrsampate    dhanurudyamya   pandavah.


Hrishikasam   tada   vakyam   idamaha    mahipate.


Atha     =       Thereupon;

Vyavasthitan     =     Situated;

Drushtva     =      Looking on;

Dharttarashtran    =    The sons of Dhrutarashtra;

kapi-dhvajah       =       One whose flag is marked with Hanuman;

pravyatte      =       while about to be engaged;

Sastra-sampate      =     The arrows released;

Dhanuh      =    Bow;

Udyamya      =     After taking up;

Pandavah.     =     The sons of Pandu ( Arjuna...);

Hrishikesam     =     Unto Lord Krishna; 

Tada     =     At that time; 

Vakyam      =     words;

 Idam     =     These; 

Aha     =    Said; 

Mahi-Pate   =   O King.



Then the son of Pandu, whose flag was marked with Hanuman and who was looking from his chariot upon the sons of Dhrutarshtra in preparing to take up his bow and shoot his arrows, o King, at that time spoke the following words to Hrishikesa [Krishna as the Lord of the senses].

When the son of Pandu, Arjuna, ready with his bow and arrows, saw how the opposition of the repressive forces of Dhrutarashtra's sons prepared to fight them in battle, he addressed, with Krishna at the reigns standing in his chariot marked with the flag of Hanuman, the sense master, his divine friend


 O king, thereafter, seeing Dhrtarastra's men standing in their positions, when all the weapons were ready for action, the son of Pandu (Arjuna) who had the insignia of Hanuman of his chariotflag, raising up his bow, said the following to Hrsikesa.


O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhrutarashtra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrishikesa [Krishna] these words:


The battle was just about to begin. It is understood from the above statement that the sons of Dhrutarastra were more or less disheartened by the unexpected arrangement of military force by the Pandavas, who were guided by the direct instructions of Lord Krishna on the battlefield. The emblem of Hanuman on the flag of Arjuna is another sign of victory because Hanuman cooperated with Lord Rama in the battle between Rama and Ravana, and Lord Rama emerged victorious. Now both Rama and Hanuman were present on the chariot of Arjuna to help him. Lord Krishna is Rama Himself, and wherever Lord Rama is, His eternal servitor Hanuman and His eternal consort Sita, the goddess of fortune, are present. Therefore, Arjuna had no cause to fear any enemies whatsoever. And above all, the Lord of the senses, Lord Krishna, was personally present to give him direction. Thus, all good counsel was available to Arjuna in the matter of executing the battle. In such auspicious conditions, arranged by the Lord for His eternal devotee, lay the signs of assured victory.


Thus after illustrating the fears displayed by the Kauravas before the battle, the enthusiasm of the Pandavas was expressed by the word atha meaning therafter. When the Kauravas for the second time attempted to rally their army for battle after their determination got dampened by the Pandavas tumultous blowing of conch shells; then the Hanuman bannered Arjuna raised his mighty divine bow named Gandiva. By using the words kapi- dhvajah meaning the banner of Hanuman the signifigance is that Hanuman fearlessly performed many extraordinarily difficult tasks for Rama, so by that great devotee hero being on the flag at the top of Arjunas chariot indicates that by his grace Arjuna will be blest with intrepid fearlessness. By the use of the word Hrsikesa referring to Lord Krishna as the controller of everyone's senses and when the Supreme Lord Krishna Himself is carrying out the orders of the Pandavas then there is not the slightest doubt about the victory of the Pandavas who are His intimate devotees. 



As the Kaurava army became fearful, to the contrary the Pandava army remained fearless and their boldness increased. This is shown by mentioning Arjunas flag which displays as its emblem that fearless hero Hanuman who diminishes the courage of the enemy. At the moment, at the very brink of battle when the clash of weapons was almost about to start, Arjuna held up his invincible bow named Gandiva which was given to him by Agni, the demigod of fire and calmly looked upon the well arrayed army of the Kauravas before him and spoke to the Lord Krishna addressing Him as Hrsikesa the master of the senses. The use of the vocative epithet mahi- pati meaning O lord of the earth in reference to Dhritarastra is sardonic indicating that his very ruler ship of the earth will be terminated due to a lack of righteousness.

To be coninued ..

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