Parthasarathi — Charioteer of Arjuna

Krishna, who vowed not to take up arms at Kurukshetra and instead drove Arjuna's chariot, is called "Parthasarathi". It was on this chariot that he spoke the Bhagavad Gita.

"Partha" is a name of Arjuna, son of Pritha, that is, Kunti. "Sarathi" means charioteer. Parthasarathi is the one who himself drove the chariot of his devotee and friend. The Lord of all the worlds holding the reins for a human being is one of the most wondrous scenes in the history of devotion.

According to the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata, before the war both Arjuna and Duryodhana came to Krishna seeking help. Krishna offered his vast Narayani army on one side, and on the other himself alone, unarmed and not fighting. Arjuna chose Krishna without hesitation, and Duryodhana went away pleased with the army. So the Lord became Arjuna's charioteer. At the start of the battle, between the two armies, seated on this very chariot, he gave the teaching of the Gita to the bewildered Arjuna.

The Parthasarathy temple at Triplicane in Chennai is a celebrated Divya Desam, where, according to tradition, the Lord's face bears marks left by Bhishma's arrows. The picture of Krishna on the chariot with Arjuna before him, hands folded, is the most familiar image of the Gita. The name teaches that whoever hands the reins of life to the Lord will have the way guided by him.

Name Sa

पार्थसारथि

Name Roman

Parthasarathi

Meaning

charioteer of Partha (Arjuna)

Source

Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva; Bhagavad Gita, ch. 1