Gita 01.21 – The surprising request to see what is already known

 

Audio Link 2: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-01-21-the-surprising-request-to-see-what-is-already-known/

 

arjuna uvāca

senayor ubhayor madhye

rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’cyuta

yāvad etān nirīkṣe ’haṁ

yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān

kair mayā saha yoddhavyam

asmin raṇa-samudyame

 

Word-for-Word:

arjunaḥ uvāca — Arjuna said; senayoḥ — of the armies; ubhayoḥ — both; madhye — between; ratham — the chariot; sthāpaya — please keep; me — my; acyuta — O infallible one; yāvat — as long as; etān — all these; nirīkṣe — may look upon; aham — I; yoddhu-kāmān — desiring to fight; avasthitān — arrayed on the battlefield; kaiḥ — with whom; mayā — by me; saha — together; yoddhavyam — have to fight; asmin — in this; raṇa — strife; samudyame — in the attempt.

 

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.

 

Explanation:

With both armies assembled on the battlefield, ready to fight, and the conches blown, the conversation among the warriors would typically center on how best to wage the war—whom to attack, where to defend, and how to strategize. Those were the kinds of discussions one would normally expect in such a setting.

 

Imagine a cricket match in progress. The bowler is poised to run in, the batsman has taken his stance, and everyone is ready for the action to begin. Suddenly, the batsman calls the non-striker over to speak. While everyone else may temporarily wait, it is generally expected that the batsman wants to discuss immediate strategy—Should I attack or defend? Should I do this or that? Such a consultation would be expected, while other types of conversation would not normally occur in that moment.

 

However, Arjuna, instead of asking about strategy, makes an unexpected request. He says,

Senayor ubhayor madhye: in between the two armies—

Ratham sthāpaya me ’cyuta: —please place my chariot, O Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa)

Yāvad etān nirīkṣe ’haṁ: by which I can see—

Yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān: —those who have assembled here to fight.

 

It is indeed an unusual request. Just as a batsman is expected to stand next to the stumps to face the ball from the bowler, Arjuna, one of the foremost warriors in the Pāṇḍava army, is expected to lead the charge against the opponent. His sudden move to the middle of the armies conveys something unexpected. Arjuna then provides a reason: “O Kṛṣṇa, place our chariot in between so that I can see.”

 

What is there for Arjuna to see? The Kauravas had not hidden their alliances. In a cricket series, for instance, a team might not reveal its final playing eleven to retain an element of surprise. Consequently, on the day of the match, the opposing team may be eager to learn who the playing eleven are, who has been included, who has been dropped, and whether the team has more batsmen, bowlers, or a balanced lineup.

 

In such cases, there is a certain amount of uncertainty and curiosity regarding the playing eleven. However, the general composition of the team is usually known. For Arjuna, there was no suspense about the Kaurava forces—their identities were well-established, and the Kauravas had not hidden anything. There was no secret playing eleven with reserves. While one warrior, Karṇa, had chosen to stay out of the war due to his spiteful relationship with Bhīṣma, the current commander, his absence was also well-known.

 

In one sense, Arjuna’s request to “see the warriors” does not make much sense, as he is unlikely to see anything new—he already knows who the warriors are. In fact, before the war, both armies and their commanders had met to assess their relative strengths and those of their opponents. Arjuna had been an active participant in that meeting, where Yudhiṣṭhira had asked him, “How long will it take for you to defeat the Kaurava army?” Arjuna had provided his assessment at that time.

 

The point is that there was no element of the unknown or unseen that Arjuna needed to explore. So, when he says, “I want to see those who have assembled here for fighting,” what exactly does he want to see? Even if the Kauravas had made some last-minute changes in strategy, the Pāṇḍavas also had their spies. Both sides were aware of what was happening in the opposing camp, and any major move would likely not go unnoticed.

 

Moreover, as one of the leaders in his army, Arjuna could already see most of the Kaurava army from his position. While a vantage point from the middle might provide a clearer view, what exactly Arjuna wanted to see remains a mystery. This is not a time for idle observation. Sometimes people go sightseeing without engaging meaningfully with their surroundings, merely to look around. For Arjuna, with the battle about to start, there was no time for sightseeing. What exactly was he doing? This peculiarity of his request stands out. Later, it will become clear that he was trying to gauge the extent of the Kauravas’ warring spirit, but we will explore that further later on.

 

However, Arjuna makes this extraordinary request, despite knowing who the warriors are on the Kauravas’ side. He has assessed their strengths himself and is aware of them through his spies. From his position, he can also see most of their army and formations. So why does he want to see them again? This unusual request raises questions.

 

Kṛṣṇa is referred to here as Acyuta, meaning “the infallible one.” The Lord is infallible in that He never lets His devotees down. In response to Arjuna’s request, Kṛṣṇa will oblige. He has agreed to act as Arjuna’s charioteer, and He will fulfill that role. However, when Arjuna’s actions lead him into illusion, the unfailing Lord will unfailingly protect His devotee and guide him out of that illusion.

 

Lord Acyuta performs His duties as ‘Acyuta’ in both capacities. He fulfills His role as a charioteer when Arjuna asks Him to place the chariot between the two armies, and He also serves as a counselor. As a friend, mentor, and guide, Kṛṣṇa will counsel Arjuna to help him overcome the illusion that arises from witnessing the two armies assembled for battle.

 

How this unfolds will be revealed in the narrative of the Bhagavad-gītā.

 

Thank you.