अर्जुन उवाच |

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत || 21.1||

arjuna uvāca |

senayorubhayor madhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me 'cyuta ||

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् |

कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे || 22.1||

yāvad etān nirīkṣe 'haṁ yoddhukāmān avasthitān |

kair mayā saha yoddhavyam asmin raṇasamudyame ||

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागता: |

धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्धर्मे युध्दे प्रियचिकीर्षवः || 23.1||

yotsyamānān avekṣe 'haṁ ya ete 'tra samāgatāḥ |

dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddher yuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ || 

सञ्जय उवाच |

एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत |

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् || 24.1||

sañjaya uvāca |

evam ukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākēśena bhārata |

sēnayōrubhayōrmadhyē sthāpayitvā rathōttamam ||

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् |

उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ||25.1||

bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarvēṣāṁ ca mahīkṣitām |

uvāca pārtha paśyaitān samavētān kurūniti ||

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान् पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् |

आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा || 26.1||

tatrāpaśyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān |

ācāryān mātulān bhrātṝn putrān pautrān sakhīṁstathā || 

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि |

तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् || 27.1||

śvaśurān suhṛdaścaiva sēnayōrubhayōrapi |

tānsamīkṣya sa kauntēyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān || 

कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् |

अर्जुन उवाच |

दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् || 28.1||

kṛpayā parayāviṣṭō viṣīdannidamabravīt |

arjuna uvāca |

dṛṣṭvēmaṁ svajanaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam ||

Context:

In these verses, the scene is set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, just before the great war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas is about to begin. Arjuna requests Lord Krishna  who is his charioteer, to place his chariot between the two armies so that he can see those assembled for battle. As Arjuna observes the warriors on both sides, he recognizes many of his own relatives, teachers, and friends. This recognition leads to a deep internal conflict within him.

Meaning

Verses 20-21

Arjuna, observing the enemy forces arranged in battle formation, instructs Krishna to position his chariot in the middle of the battlefield. Arjuna wants to see the warriors on both sides who are eager to fight.

Verses 22-23

Arjuna expresses his desire to examine those who have gathered to fight, and he wants to see with whom he will have to engage in this great battle. He wishes to understand who among them are supporting the unjust Duryodhana, the leader of the Kauravas.

Verses 24-25

Sanjaya, the narrator of the Bhagavad Gita, describes how Krishna, following Arjuna’s request, positions the chariot in the middle of the battlefield, facing the leaders of both armies, including Bhishma and Drona. Krishna then asks Arjuna to behold the gathered Kurus.

Verses 26-28

As Arjuna surveys the battlefield, he sees his relatives, including fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, and well-wishers. Overwhelmed with compassion and sorrow, Arjuna is filled with pity and speaks to Krishna, expressing his anguish and reluctance to engage in a battle that would involve killing his own kinsmen. He is deeply troubled by the idea of fighting against those he holds dear and respected.

In these verses, Arjuna is confronted with the stark reality of the imminent war. His moral and emotional dilemma is vividly depicted as he sees his loved ones on the battlefield. This internal conflict and sorrow mark the beginning of Arjuna's spiritual crisis, which leads to the subsequent teachings of Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. Arjuna’s compassion and his reluctance to fight highlight the complexity of duty and the profound ethical questions that the Bhagavad Gita addresses.

Today's context

The shlokas from Chapter 1, Verses 20 to 28 of the Bhagavad Gita, offer timeless insights into dealing with moral dilemmas, leadership, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and personal growth. They provide a framework for approaching life's challenges with wisdom which is highly relevant in today's world.

Here are a few key points illustrating their contemporary significance:

Ethical and Moral Dilemmas:

Arjuna's internal struggle reflects the universal human experience of facing difficult decisions, especially when they involve ethical or moral dilemmas. In today's world, individuals often encounter situations where they must choose between conflicting duties or values, such as career versus family, or personal gain versus social responsibility.

Compassion and Empathy:

Arjuna’s compassion for his relatives and his reluctance to cause harm resonate with modern values of empathy and compassion. This points out the impact of our actions on others and ourselves.

Leadership and Responsibility:

Arjuna's request to survey the battlefield before making a decision illustrates the importance of understanding the full scope of a situation before acting. Leaders today can learn the value of thorough analysis and seeking a complete perspective before making critical decisions.

Duty and Responsibility:

The concept of 'dharma' or duty is central to these verses. Arjuna's crisis is fundamentally about understanding and performing one's duty. In the modern context, this can be interpreted as fulfilling one's responsibilities in various roles – personal, professional, and societal – despite challenges and emotional difficulties.

Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health:

Arjuna's feelings of sorrow, compassion, and confusion are very human responses to a challenging situation. Recognizing and managing such emotions is crucial for mental health today. The importance of seeking guidance (like Arjuna seeks Krishna's counsel) underscores the need for support systems, whether through mentors, counselors, or friends, in dealing with emotional and mental challenges.

Inner Peace and Self-Realization:

The shlokas set the stage for the profound philosophical discussions that follow in the Bhagavad Gita. They remind us of the importance of seeking inner peace and self-realization. In a fast-paced and often stressful modern world, turning inward and reflecting on one’s purpose and values can provide clarity and peace.

Knowledge Bank

Ashwini Nakshatra deity

Ashwini Kumaras.

What is Hastinapur called now?

Meerut. Hastinapur, the capital of the Kurus in Mahabharata is identified with Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.