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← Chapter 1: The Yoga of Arjuna's Dejection

Verse 1.21

Speaker: Sanjaya

Sanskrit

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते | सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ||२१||

Transliteration (IAST)

hṛṣīkeśaṁ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate | senayorubhayormadhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me'cyuta ||21||

Word-by-Word Meanings

हृषीकेशम्-to Krishna (lord of the senses)
वाक्यम्-words
सेनयोः-of the armies
उभयोः-both
मध्ये-in the middle
रथम्-chariot
स्थापय-place
अच्युत-O infallible one (Krishna)

Translation

Arjuna said to Krishna: O Achyuta, please draw my chariot between the two armies.

Commentary

Arjuna addresses Krishna as 'Achyuta' (the infallible one) and 'Hṛṣīkeśa' (lord of the senses). His request to be placed between the armies shows his warrior's confidence - he wants to survey whom he must fight. This confidence will soon collapse into despair.

Themes

dharmaduty