Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 21

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

अर्जुन उवाच ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥

Transliteration

hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate .
arjuna uvāca .
senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me.acyuta ॥

Meaning

Arjuna said: O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies.

Word meanings

सेनयोः – of the armies
उभयोः – both
मध्ये – in the middle
रथम् – chariot
स्थापय – place, station
मे – my
अच्युत – O Achyuta, the infallible one (Krishna)

Anvaya (word order)

अर्जुनः उवाच — अच्युत, उभयोः सेनयोः मध्ये मे रथं स्थापय ।

Explanation

Arjuna's first words in the Gita sound almost like a command: 'Place my chariot between the two armies.' The scene is wonderful: the Lord of the whole universe waits like a charioteer for the instruction of his devotee and friend. This humility of God and his tender love for his devotee stand always in the background of the Gita.

Arjuna calls Krishna Achyuta. Chyuta means 'fallen' or 'deviated'; Achyuta is the one who never falls from his nature, his resolve or his dharma. The address is full of meaning: in a few moments Arjuna himself will waver from his duty, and it is this unwavering one who will make him steady again.

The phrase senayor ubhayor madhye, 'between the two armies', recurs several times in the Gita. Outwardly it is the centre of the battlefield, from where both sides can be seen clearly. Inwardly it is that centre of the human heart where two armies, dharma and adharma, duty and attachment, stand face to face. Every person stands at this spot at some point in life.

Arjuna's request does not yet come from weakness but from a warrior's alertness. He wants to see whom he must fight. Yet this very seeing will become the cause of his despair.

Context

In the previous verse Sanjaya said that Arjuna raised his bow and began to speak to Krishna. Arjuna's words begin here and continue in the next two verses (22-23), where he explains why he wants the chariot placed in the middle.

Life lesson

Before any great decision, one must stand in the middle and see both sides clearly. And in such moments the reins of our life should be in the hands of the Achyuta, the one who never wavers.

Key terms

Achyuta: the infallible one who never falls from his nature; Krishna
Senayor ubhayor madhye: between the two armies; a symbol of the inner conflict of duty and attachment
Sarathi: charioteer; here the Lord as guide of the devotee