Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 24

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Sanjaya

Sanskrit verse

सञ्जय उवाच ।
एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca .
evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata .
senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam ॥

Meaning

Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, thus addressed by Gudakesha (Arjuna), Hrishikesha (Krishna) stationed that finest of chariots between the two armies,

Word meanings

एवम् – thus
उक्तः – addressed
हृषीकेशः – Hrishikesha, lord of the senses (Krishna)
गुडाकेशेन – by Gudakesha, conqueror of sleep (Arjuna)
भारत – O descendant of Bharata (Dhritarashtra)
सेनयोः – of the armies
उभयोः – both
मध्ये – in the middle
स्थापयित्वा – having placed
रथोत्तमम् – the finest chariot

Anvaya (word order)

सञ्जयः उवाच — भारत, गुडाकेशेन एवम् उक्तः हृषीकेशः उभयोः सेनयोः मध्ये रथोत्तमं स्थापयित्वा —

Explanation

Sanjaya now relates what Krishna did at Arjuna's request. Two special names appear here, Hrishikesha and Gudakesha. They sound alike, but their meanings differ, and together they make a beautiful point.

Gudakesha means the lord (isha) of gudaka, sleep: the conqueror of sleep. Arjuna was renowned for his vigilance and self-discipline; when necessary he could fully master sleep and sloth. Another meaning is 'one with thick curly hair'. Symbolically, sleep also stands for ignorance and tamas; one who has conquered sleep is fit for knowledge. This is why Arjuna is a worthy recipient of the Gita's teaching.

Hrishikesha is the lord of the senses. He who governs the senses of all beings now serves as Arjuna's charioteer and follows his instruction. The meeting of the seeker who has mastered himself (Gudakesha) and the supreme master of the senses (Hrishikesha) prepares the ground for the teaching of the Gita.

Sanjaya addresses Dhritarashtra as Bharata, 'descendant of Bharata'. It reminds him that both sides belong to the same Bharata line; this war is in truth a civil war within one family. By calling the chariot rathottamam, 'the finest of chariots', Sanjaya again highlights the glory of the divine chariot on which the Lord himself is charioteer. The sentence is completed in the next verse.

Context

After Arjuna's request in verses 21-23, Sanjaya resumes the narrative here. The sentence ends in verse 25, where Krishna tells Arjuna, 'O Partha, behold these Kurus assembled.'

Life lesson

The seeker who overcomes the sleep of sloth and ignorance becomes fit for true knowledge. When we bring alertness into our lives, the Lord himself becomes the guide of our chariot.

Key terms

Gudakesha: conqueror of sleep; a name of Arjuna
Hrishikesha: lord of the senses; Krishna
Bharata: descendant of Bharata; here an address to Dhritarashtra
Rathottama: the finest of chariots