Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 22

English Translation

until I survey these who stand intent on fighting, and those who are going to engage in battle with me in this impending war.

Detailed Commentary

।।1.22।। **Explanation:** "O Achyuta, place the chariot between both armies." – Arjuna asks the Lord to position the chariot in the middle of the two armies, where they stood facing each other ready for battle. There was sufficient distance between them for one army to launch arrows and other projectiles upon the other. Arjuna's request to place the chariot in the central space between both armies is so that he may easily observe them. The phrase 'senayorubhayormadhye' (between both armies) appears three times in the Gita: here (in 1.21), in the twenty-fourth verse of this very chapter, and in the tenth verse of the second chapter. These three occurrences signify that first Arjuna, filled with valor, commands his chariot to be placed between the two armies (1.21); then the Lord, having placed the chariot there, asks him to observe the Kurus (1.24); and finally, it is amidst these two armies that He imparts the profound teachings of the Gita to the despondent Arjuna (2.10). Thus, initially, Arjuna possessed valor; subsequently, upon seeing his kinsmen, his mind became distant from the battle due to attachment (moha); and ultimately, he received the great spiritual wisdom of the Gita from the Lord, which dispelled his delusion. From this, the spiritual insight emerges that a human being, by making proper use of the circumstances encountered in any situation, can become *nishkama* (desireless) and attain the Paramatma (Supreme Self). The reason is that Paramatma remains eternally uniform in all circumstances. "Yavade'tan nirīkṣe'haṁ... raṇasamudyame" – Until when should the chariot be kept between the two armies? To this, Arjuna replies that the chariot should remain there until he has seen all the kings, along with their armies, who have assembled in the Kaurava army with the desire to fight. He wishes to ascertain, in this enterprise of battle, with whom he has to fight. He wants to see who among them is as strong as him, who is less strong than him, and who is stronger than him. Let him observe them all. Here, by the word 'yodhdhukāmān' (desiring to fight), Arjuna implies that while they (the Pandavas) had considered a proposal for peace, the Kauravas did not accept it because they harbored a greater desire for war in their hearts. Therefore, he wishes to see with what determination they intend to wage war.