Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 21

English Translation

Arjuna said O Acyuta, please place my chariot between both the armies .

Detailed Commentary

।।1.21।। Explanation -- 'Acyuta, place the chariot between the armies' -- The two armies stood facing each other for battle. There was sufficient distance between them for one army to shoot arrows at the other. In the middle, between these armies, Arjuna requests the Lord to position the chariot so that both armies could be easily observed. The phrase 'senayor ubhayor madhye' appears three times in the Gita – here (1.21), in the twenty-fourth verse of this chapter, and in the tenth verse of the second chapter. This implies that first Arjuna orders his chariot to be placed between the armies (1.21), then the Lord positions the chariot and asks him to behold the Kuru warriors (1.24), and finally, amidst the armies, the despondent Arjuna receives the teachings of the Gita (2.10). From this, it is evident that Arjuna initially possessed valor, then due to *moha*, he became indifferent to battle, and finally, he received the teachings of the Gita from the Lord, which dispelled his *moha*. This demonstrates that a human being, by remaining in any circumstance and making proper use of that circumstance, can become *nishkama* and attain *Paramatma* there itself. Because *Paramatma* always remains the same in all circumstances. 'Yāvad etān nirīkṣe 'haṁ... raṇasamudyame' -- Arjuna says to keep the chariot there until he has seen the warriors assembled in the Kaurava army. He wishes to know who his opponents are, who possess equal might, who possess lesser might, and who possess greater might. By the word '*yoddhukāmān*', Arjuna is saying that he had considered a truce, but the Kauravas rejected it, as they have an intense desire for war in their hearts. Therefore, Arjuna wishes to observe them to see with what might they desire to fight.