Gita : Ch-1. Slo-21 & 22..

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :-


Chapter-1. ( Arjuna vishada yogam )


Slokam-21/22.( Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see who is present here, who is desirous of fighting, and with whom I must contend in this great battle attempt.)




arjuna uvaca  :   



senayor  ubhayor   madhye   ratham   sthapayame cyuta,


yavadetan    niriksheham     yoddhukamanavasthitan, 


kairmaya   saha    yoddhavyam     asmin     ranasamudyame.




arjuna   =   Arjuna; 

uvaca   =   said; 

senayoh   =    the armies; 

ubhayoh   =   of both the parties; 

madhye   =   in between them;

ratham   =   the chariot; 

sthapaya   =   please keep; 

me   =   my;

acyuta   =   O infallible one; 

yavat   =   as long as; 

etan   =   all these;

 nirikshe   =   may look; 

aham   =   I; 

yoddhu-kaman   =   desiring to fight; 

avasthitan   =   arrayed on the battlefield; 

kaih   =   with whom;

maya   =   by me; 

saha   =   with;

 yoddhavyam   =   to fight with; 

asmin   =   in this; 

rana   =   strife; 

amudyame   =   in the attempt.




Addressing Lord Krishna again as Acutya the infallible one, Arjuna requested Him to place the chariot between the two armies. Why would Arjuna request that the chariot be placed between the two armies like a spectator? It was so he could see those with whom he would soon be fighting. 


Addressing Lord Krishna as Acutya, the infallible one, Sanjaya repeats Arjuna request to Lord Krishna to position the chariot in the middle, between the two firmly opposing armies indicating the mighty strength of Lord Krishna firmness on all sides. There is no rule of warfare stating that one should fight in only one place. Yet why should Arjuna request to have the chariot stationed between the two armies? In this verse he states that he wishes to observe those arrayed against him desiring to fight. If it is asked has he come to witness the battle as a spectator or to fight? Arjuna has no intention of being a spectator; but to see those opponents who he is worthy to fight against and who are worthy to fight against him. 


Arjuna is now speaking beginning with the words: senayor ubhayor. By saying O Acyuta meaning infallible, Arjuna addresses Lord Krishna as the one who is never contrary to His inherent qualities of affection for His devotees and His Supreme Majesty and so he states thus being guided by those very qualities place my chariot as I have instructed. 


The reason for placing the chariot as instructed is being explained by the verse beginning: yavad etan. The Kauravas are only desirous of war not peace and externally appear unmoved by trepidation. One might say that Arjuna is a warrior not a spectator, so what is the necessity of viewing the enemy? The answer to this is that since the battle is taking place between relatives, Arjuna desires to see just what friends have joined the ranks of the enemy that he will have to fight. If it is argued that out of friendship these friends seeing him would want to make a truce, the answer is given by the verse beginning with: yotsyamanan meaning they have only come to fight. 


Although Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, out of His causeless mercy He was engaged in the service of His friend. He never fails in His affection for His devotees, and thus He is addressed herein as infallible. As charioteer, He had to carry out the orders of Arjuna, and since He did not hesitate to do so, He is addressed as infallible. Although He had accepted the position of a charioteer for His devotee, His supreme position was not challenged. In all circumstances, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hrishikesa, the Lord of the total senses. The relationship between the Lord and His servitor is very sweet and transcendental. The servitor is always ready to render a service to the Lord, and, similarly, the Lord is always seeking an opportunity to render some service to the devotee. He takes greater pleasure in His pure devotee's assuming the advantageous postion of ordering Him than He does in being the giver of orders. As master, everyone is under His orders, and no one is above Him to order Him. But when he finds that a pure devotee is ordering Him, He obtains transcendental pleasure, although He is the infallible master of all circumstances.



As a pure devotee of the Lord, Arjuna had no desire to fight with his cousins and brothers, but he was forced to come onto the battlefield by the obstinacy of Duryodhana, who was never agreeable to any peaceful negotiation. Therefore, he was very anxious to see who the leading persons present on the battlefield were. Although there was no question of a peacemaking endeavor on the battlefield, he wanted to see them again, and to see how much they were bent upon demanding an unwanted war.


To be continued ...