BHAGAVAD GEETA – 13 : Swami Advayanandaji.Chapter-1.

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Arjuna Vishadha yogam  (“Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency” )

Sri Veda Vyasaji

Discourse – 1 (47 Slogas)

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Friday, 30 Jun, 2023. 07:15.

Post - 13.

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Slogas - 21B & 22: Arjuna Instructs Krishna

Arjuna Uvaacha: Arjuna said :

1 

Senayoh ubhayoh madhye  =  In the midst of the two armies

2 

ratham sthaapaya me Achyuta;  =  place my chariot, O Achyuta (the unfailing one);

3

yaavat etaan nireekshe aham  =  that I may behold those here

4

yoddhu-kaamaan avasthitaan;  =  who stand desirous of fighting;

5 

kaih mayaa saha yoddavyam  =  (and get to know) with whom I am to fight

6 

asmin rana-samudyame.  =  on this the eve of the battle.

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1

 Symbolically, these words “in the midst of the two armies” could be interpreted 

variously, depending on which aspect of the occasion one is interested in.

i) If our subject is Arjuna as a heroic warrior, then we see the words signifying his 

enormous courage and daring. He wants to be face to face with those with whom he is to 

engage in battle. This is vintage Arjuna – the Arjuna whom we know as the “invincible hero 

of the Mahabharata”.

ii) 

If our subject is the battle itself, then this could represent neutral territory, as at 

that moment both sides have announced their intention to clash but have not yet done so. 

The neutral territory is safe ground from which the whole scene can be surveyed.

iii) 

If we are seeing this from hindsight, we could see these words as heralding the 

mental state of indecision which Arjuna is about to be overcome by. He is neither on this 

side nor on that side. Going into “neutral” territory means suddenly losing sight of the battle 

and seeing both sides as having one common factor – namely, that they are all relatives of 

each other. Seeing the situation from this neutral angle, a whole new mental state

overcomes Arjuna, as we shall soon see. 

2 

Achyuta: Addressing Krishna with this word is significant: It means “one who never 

falls; never slips down”; such a person can be very helpful to one who is about to fall – as 

Arjuna is destined to in a short while. When that happens, Arjuna will need the support of 

Krishna, who “cannot fall”.

3-6 

This part is where Providence makes room for the sacred Delivery of the Geeta

to take place without interruption! The curtains close on the war for a while; it seems that 

Arjuna just wants to have some private space in the presence of Krishna for a little longer

time. Time freezes, as it were. Unknown to his conscious self, his soul surges forward for the 

crucial transformation that it is about to experience.

*****

Next

Slogam - 23 : The Kaurava Allies

To be continued

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