bhagavad-gitagitakrishnaarjuna-vishada-yoga

Bhagavad Gita 1.21 — Senayor Ubhayor Madhye

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १.२१ — सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 During morning Gita study, or while reflecting before an important decision·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 21

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

In this verse Arjuna, addressing Krishna as Hrishikesha and Achyuta, asks the Lord — who has taken the role of his charioteer — to draw the chariot into the space between the two armies. He wishes to survey the warriors gathered for battle before the fighting begins. This simple request marks the moment Arjuna comes face to face with his kinsmen, teachers and friends, setting in motion the despondency that leads to the entire teaching of the Gita.

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 21 · Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva) · Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)

In the first chapter, Arjuna Vishada Yoga, after the conches have been blown and both armies stand ready, Arjuna asks his charioteer Krishna to drive the chariot between the two forces. Sanjaya narrates this to the blind king Dhritarashtra. The request leads Arjuna directly before his kinsmen, awakening the sorrow that becomes the occasion for the Bhagavad Gita.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that the Lord, out of love for His devotee, accepted the humble role of Arjuna's charioteer — and that whoever makes Krishna the charioteer of their own life is guided unerringly through every battlefield of the world.

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The Mantra

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arjuna uvācha senayor ubhayor madhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’chyuta

Meaning:Arjuna said: O Achyuta (infallible Krishna), place my chariot in the middle, between the two armies, so that I may behold those who stand here desirous of battle, and know with whom I must fight as this clash of arms is about to begin.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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arjunaḥ uvācha🔊Arjun said

hṛiṣhīkeśham🔊to Hrishikesha, the master of the senses (Krishna)

tadā🔊then; at that time

vākyam idam🔊these words

āha🔊said; spoke

mahīpate🔊O lord of the earth (Sanjaya addressing Dhritarashtra)

senayoḥ🔊of the armies

ubhayoḥ🔊of both

madhye🔊in the middle

ratham🔊the chariot

sthāpaya🔊place; station

me🔊my

achyuta🔊O Achyuta, the infallible One (Krishna)

Benefits of Chanting श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १.२१ — सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये

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Depicts the Lord's humility in becoming the devotee's charioteer and guide

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Reminds the seeker to pause and clearly survey life's battlefield before acting

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Invokes Krishna as Hrishikesha — master of the senses — for self-control

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Sets the contemplative stage for Arjuna's surrender and Krishna's teaching

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Encourages turning to the Divine as the steady charioteer of one's life

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Cultivates trust that placing the Lord at the centre brings clarity in crisis

How to Chant श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १.२१ — सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये

Repetitions1times

Best TimeDuring morning Gita study, or while reflecting before an important decision

Recite this verse while studying the first chapter of the Gita. As you chant, picture Krishna as the willing charioteer of the soul, drawing the chariot of the body to the very centre of life's struggles. Reflect on how naming the Lord 'Hrishikesha' (master of the senses) and 'Achyuta' (the infallible) expresses both surrender and trust. Let the verse settle the mind into stillness before continuing the chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १.२१ — सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Arjuna asks Krishna, who is acting as his charioteer, to place the chariot in the space between the two armies so that he can clearly see the warriors who have gathered, eager to fight, before the battle begins.

'Hrishikesha' means the Lord of the senses, hinting that Krishna controls the very faculties Arjuna is about to lose mastery of; 'Achyuta' means the infallible, the one who never falls. The names express Arjuna's reverence and his trust in Krishna's steadfast guidance.

This verse is the turning point where Arjuna asks to view the battlefield. Standing between the two armies, he sees his own relatives and teachers, which triggers the grief and confusion (vishada) that prompts Krishna's entire teaching.

'Mahipate' (O lord of the earth) is Sanjaya's address to King Dhritarashtra. Sanjaya is narrating the events of the battlefield to the blind king, so he refers to Dhritarashtra while reporting Arjuna's words.