1 · Learn3 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

Or browse by chapter
Chapter

Chapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra · 46 verses

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Questions & crisisChapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
1.211.23

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.22

Arjuna asks to survey the armies

Karma · Action

अर्जुन उवाच

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ।

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्‍धुकामानवस्थितान् ॥ २१ ॥

कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्‍रणसमुद्यमे ॥ २२ ॥

arjuna uvāca

senayor ubhayor madhye

rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’cyuta

yāvad etān nirīkṣe ’haṁ

yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān

kair mayā saha yoddhavyam

asmin raṇa-samudyame

Translation

Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see those present here, who desire to fight, and with whom I must contend in this great trial of arms.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Arjuna Wants to See

  1. 1

    Arjuna asks Kṛṣṇa to place his chariot between the armies to see who insists on this unwanted war, not wanting to fight his relatives.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa mercifully serves His friend, never fails in His affection for His devotees, and takes pleasure in accepting His pure devotee’s orders.

  3. 3

    Even as Arjuna’s charioteer, Kṛṣṇa remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 1.21–23

Arjuna requests the infallible Lord to draw his chariot in the middle:

To see who were the leading men present with a desire to fight, to please evil-minded son of Dhrtarashtra

a

Meaning of ‘Achyuta’ — infallible, addressed so because:

The Lord never fails in affection for His devotees – thus engaged in the service of His friend, out of His causeless mercy

Did not hesitate to carry out the order of Arjuna as his charioteer

Still His supreme position as Hrsikesa, the Lord of senses was unchallenged

b

Relationship between Lord and devotee is sweet and transcendental — A devotee is always eager to serve the Lord and Lord obtains transcendental pleasure in receiving the orders of His pure devotees, although He is always the infallible, Supreme master

c

Why Arjuna asked to move the chariot amidst the armies — because:

Arjuna was forced to fight against his wish (Because of obstinacy of Duryodhana)

Anxious - To see who were the leading men present with a desire to fight, to please Duryodhana (They all must be birds of the same feather)

To see how much they were bent upon fighting

To estimate the strength which he had to face, although confident of victory – because of Krishna sitting on his side

But he had no intention of peace-making at this moment

Further reading

Introduction

Chapter 1, section I: Introduction
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arjunaḥ uvācaArjuna said
  2. senayoḥof the armies
  3. ubhayoḥboth
  4. madhyebetween
  5. rathamthe chariot
  6. sthāpayaplease keep
  7. memy
  8. acyutaO infallible one
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 1.22 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 1 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.20Arjuna asks to survey the armiesBG 1.21Arjuna asks to survey the armiesBG 2.7The moment Arjuna becomes a discipleBG 6.34The restless mind
Live this todayThe Soft Heart of a DevoteeA practice from BG 1.28, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction