Gita : Ch -1. Slo - 24 & 25.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : ( Slokam-s -24 & 25. )


Chapter-1. ( ( Arjuna-vishada-yogam )


Slokam-24.   ( Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, being thus addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krishna drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties )



sanjaya uvaca :


evamukto   hrshikesah    gudakesena   bharata,


senayorubhayormadhye     sthapayitva    rathottamam.



sanjayah    uvaca   =   sanjaya   said; 

bharata!   =  hey      dratarashtra   maharaja;

gudakesena    evam     uktah   =    by   arjuna    thus,   addressed; 

hrshikesah   =     Lord Krsna; 

ubhayoah    senayoah   madhye    =   in   between    two   armies;
       
rathottamam    sthapayitva   =   placed   the    finest   chariot.



Then what happenned? To this question Sanjaya answers Dhritarastra in these two verses first by addressing him as O descendant of Bharata. What is being subtly suggested here is that being born in the exalted lineage of the righteous and noble King Bharata, it would not be appropriate for the blind Dhritarastra to betray his nephews the Pandavas who are the five sons of his brother. 


What happenned after that? Being so requested by Arjuna who is also called Gudakesa because he had mastered the ability to go without sleep. 


In this slokam Arjuna is referred to as Gudakesa. Gudaka means sleep, and one who conquers sleep is called gudakesa. Sleep also means ignorance. So Arjuna conquered both sleep and ignorance because of his friendship with Krishna. As a great devotee of Krishna, he could not forget Krishna even for a moment, because that is the nature of a devotee. Either in waking or in sleep, a devotee of the Lord can never be free from thinking of Krishn's name, form, qualities and pastimes. Thus a devotee of Krishna can conquer both sleep and ignorance simply by thinking of Krishna constantly. This is called Krishna consciousness, or samadhi. As Hrsikesa, or the director of the senses and mind of every living entity, Krishna could understand Arjuna's purpose in placing the chariot in the midst of the armies. Thus He did so, and spoke as follows.




Slokam-25. ( In the presence of Bhishma, Drona and all other chieftains of the world, Hrshikesa, the Lord, said, Just behold, Arjuna, all the Kurus who are assembled here. )



bhishma-drona-pramukhatah   sarvesham   ca   mahikshitam,


uvaca     partha     pasyaitan    samavetan    kurun    iti.



bhishma   drona    pramukhatah     =      in  front of   Grandfather Bhishma,   The teacher Drona;     

sarvesham    mahikshitam   ca   =    and   also   all    heads   of   states   (  kings   joined   kauravas  );

partha!     samavetan    etan   =   hey   arjuna!    along    with   all   these   assembled;

kurun    pasya   =     look   at   these   kauravas;

iti   uvaca   =   thus,   told.    




As the Supersoul of all living entities, Lord Krishna could understand what was going on in the mind of Arjuna. The use of the word Hrishikesa in this connection indicates that He knew everything. And the word Partha, or the son of Kunti or Prtha, is also similarly significant in reference to Arjuna. As a friend, He wanted to inform Arjuna that because Arjuna was the son of Prtha, the sister of His own father Vasudeva, He had agreed to be the charioteer of Arjuna. Now what did Krishna mean when He told Arjuna to "behold the Kurus"? Did Arjuna want to stop there and not fight? Krishna never expected such things from the son of His aunt Prtha. The mind of Arjuna was thus predicated by the Lord in friendly joking.


After attentively surveying the army of the Kauravas arranged in battle formation, Arjuna the son of Pandu on whose flag bears the image of Hanuman, who set the kingdom of Lanka ablaze, requested Lord Krishna to place their chariot between the two opposing armies. Requested whom? Arjuna requested no lesser peronality than the Supreme Lord Himself, the treasurehouse of such attributes as wisdom, strength, sovereignity, eternality, omnipotence and splendour. Whom by His will created the complete cosmic manifestation in its triple aspect of inception, preservation and dissolution for His own pleasure as in sport. 


The Supreme Lord Krishna, Hrsikesa, the master of the senses. The Supreme Controller, internally and externally of all living entities evolving and evolved. Who although the Supreme Lord of all, yet descended down to Earth out of His causeless mercy for the redemption of the faithful and even more, He condescended to be Arjuna's chariot driver, carrying out his wish to station their chariot in such a commanding position as to be able to readily view the belligerent Kauravas and put within the range of his vision such heroes as Bhishmadeva, Dronacarya and Kripa and the Kings of royal dynasties. At that time the Supreme Lord Krishna said to Arjuna: see what chances there are for the Kauravas victory over thee. 


Placing the chariot in front of Bhishma and Drona between the two opposing armies Lord Krishna said: O Partha observe all these Kauravas and see those who are favoring them. The use of the word Partha emphasizes that as Arjuna is the son of Kunti who is the sister of Vasudev who assumed the role of being Lord Krishna's father; then He will as family engage Himself by accepting the position of Arjuna's chariot driver. The use of the word Hrsikesa signifies that Arjuna will lose his desire to fight so what is the purpose of viewing the enemy army on the battlefield and within Lord Krishna's words an innuendo of taunting was hidden.


Lord Krishna requested by the ever alert Arjuna stationed that finest of chariots between the two opposing armies in front of Bhisma, Drona and all the kings and said: Behold all these members of the Kuru dynasty assembled here. 


The Supreme Lord Krishna placed that most excellent of chariots in front of the Kaurava commanders Bhishma and Drona saying: See the assembled Kurus.

To be continued  ...