Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Verse 21 (1.21)
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Verse 21 (1.21)
अर्जुन उवाच
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते । सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥ २१ ॥
arjuna uvācha hṛiṣhīkeśhaṁ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate senayorubhayormadhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me’chyuta
Word-by-word guide:
Line 0:
- अर्जुन
(Arjuna)— अर्जुन(Arjuna) - उवाच
(uvacha)— बोले(said)
Line 1:
- इइएश
(Hrishikesham)— कृष्ण(to Krishna, Lord of the senses) - तद
(tada)— तब अर्जुन(then) - वाक्यम्
(vakyam)— वचन(words) - इदम्
(idam)— यह(these) - अह
(aha)— कहा(spoke) - मइ-पए
(mahi-pate)— राजा(O king)
Line 2:
- एनओ
(senayoh)— एनओ(of the armies) -
ibajoined in senayorubhayormadhye - यः
(yah)— जो(who) -
rjoined in senayorubhayormadhye - मध्ये
(madhye)— बीच में(between) - रथ
(ratham)— रथ(chariot) - थपय
(sthapaya)— स्थापित करो(place) - मे
(me)— मेरा(my) - अच्युत
(Achyuta)— हे अच्युत(the unfallen one)
English: Arjuna then spoke these words to Krishna: O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies.
Learnings from Shloka 21:
- Face reality directly: Arjuna wants to see the situation clearly before acting.
- Krishna as guide: Arjuna turns to Krishna to position him rightly.
- Distance changes judgment: A decision can feel different when seen up close.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 1.21 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Arjuna asks Krishna to place the chariot between the two armies. This request brings him face to face with the full reality of the conflict.
It is often easier to think about a duty from a distance. When we stand in the middle of the situation and see the people involved, the decision becomes more complex and personal.