arjuna uvāca
senayor ubhayor madhye
rathaḿ sthāpaya me ‘cyuta
yāvad etān nirīkṣe ‘haḿ
yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān

kair mayā saha yoddhavyam
asmin raṇa-samudyame

Translation of Bhagavad Gita 1.21

 

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.

Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:

No commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur.

Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:

1.20 – 1.25 Arjuna said — Sanjaya said — Thus, directed by him, Sri Krsna did immediately as He had been directed, while Bhisma, Drona and others and all the kings were looking on. Such is the prospect of victory for your men.

Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:

Addressing Lord Krishna again as Acutya the infallible one, Arjuna requested Him to place the chariot between the two armies. Why would Arjuna request that the chariot be placed between the two armies like a spectator? It was so he could see those with whom he would soon be fighting.

Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:

Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.

Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:

Addressing Lord Krishna as Acutya, the infallible one, Sanjaya repeats Arjuna request to Lord Krishna to position the chariot in the middle, between the two firmly opposing armies indicating the mighty strength of Lord Krishna firmness on all sides. There is no rule of warfare stating that one should fight in only one place. Yet why should Arjuna request to have the chariot stationed between the two armies? In this verse he states that he wishes to observe those arrayed against him desiring to fight. If it is asked has he come to witness the battle as a spectator or to fight? Arjuna has no intention of being a spectator; but to see those opponents who he is worthy to fight against and who are worthy to fight against him.

Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:

1.21 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.

Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:

1.12 — 1.29 Sri Abhinavgupta did not comment upon this sloka.

Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:

arjuna uvaca
senayor ubhayor madhye
ratham sthapaya me ‘cyuta
yavad etan nirikse ‘ham
yoddhu-kaman avasthitan

kair maya saha yoddhavyam
asmin rana-samudyame

Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:

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.