Bhagavad Gita 1.21-22

Sanskrit

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते । सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥1.21॥यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् । कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ॥1.22॥

Transliteration

hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate | senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me'cyuta ‖1.21‖ yāvadetānnirīkṣe'haṃ yoddhukāmānavasthitān | kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasmin raṇasamudyame ‖1.22‖

Meaning

“Arjuna said: O Krishna, place my chariot between the two armies, so that I may see those who stand here eager to fight, and with whom I must contend in this work of war.”

Key learning

Arjuna asks to be placed in the middle, between the two armies, so he can really see. Wanting to see the whole picture, both sides at once, is the start of his crisis and also the seed of his wisdom. To stand in the middle and truly look is to risk being shaken by what you see.

How to apply this today

Be willing to stand in the middle and actually look at what you're about to do, even when it's easier not to. Before a layoff, look the affected people in the face instead of deciding from a spreadsheet. Seeing clearly may complicate your resolve, but clarity that survives only by not looking isn't really clarity.

Theme: The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair

This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga , read all verses in this chapter.

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