Arjun orders Krushna ’Place my chariot’ (Part 3 of Ch1)

Chapter 1

(Despondency of Arjun)

Part 3 (Stanza 1.21 to 1.27)

Topic:  Arjun orders Krushna 'Place my chariot’ 

Synopsis: Though in part 2 Arjun’s name is flashed for his blowing conch, his full fledged entry occurs in this part. Arjun is boisterous while telling Krushna, a bit curtly to place his chariot between two armies. He exudes the ego of a great warrior when he says he wishes to see those who will fight with him just to please senseless Duryodhan. But no sooner Krushna places the chariot facing Bhishma, Drona etc he starts grieving. Why this happens?

For answering that question, you should know Arjun’s personality. The personality among other things depends upon one’s position in the life.  Arjun’s life  is briefly summed up here.

Starting right from his birth; Arjuna is the son of Indra, the king of the heaven, born of Kunti, the first wife of King Pandu in the Kuru dynasty. He was Kunti’s youngest child and hence was carefree than his elder brothers. It is likely that he was less affected by Duyodhan’s evil designs than his elder brothers especially Bhim.

He was brightest of all brothers including his cousins  in the studies which made him darling of his teacher Drona. Drona  taught Arjun more than his son Ashvatthama.

Drona took thumb of Eklavya so that Arjun remains the top archer.

Arjuna was the dearest grandson of Bhishma.

On the marital front Arjun married four great ladies.

Arjun fought many wars including one against load Shiva. He got special weapons from  Load Shiva and Indra the king of heaven.

Arjun was excellent in arts like dancing singing etc  and flaunt emotions. 

The list may include more but the most important is Arjun’ relation with Krushna. Arjun is Krushna’s cousin brother and also bother in law. Krushna is Arjun’s friend and teacher in Bhagvad Gita. In previous birth when Krushna was st. narayan, Arjun was St. Nar and both lived together.

It seems that his comfortable position in family coupled with his outstanding achievements has made him flamboyant but subservient to senior family members.

He follows inadvertently spoken words and shared his wife Draupadi with his brothers.

He accepts the consequences of gambling by elder brother and keeps mum during unclothing of Draupadi by Dusashan.

Though he personally approached Bhishma to see if war can be avoided, he did not argue with Yudhisthir against war decided by him.

All these may sound silly to a modern youth who are assertive for their interests and views. According to modern management methods, Arjun's behavior may be called a guilt management.

Arjun is a warrior. He has so far not thought about the ill effects of any war fought by him. In this war which is about to be ensued, the adversaries happen to be his friend and relatives and thereby he is upset because of the thought of losing them due to their getting killed and possibly at his hand. Though Arjun has extra ordinary powers he does not understand that this war is  due to family feud and for selfish interests.

With this background let us start with the stanzas..

arjuna uvāca

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥ १-२१ ॥

 Senayor ubhayor madhye ratham stapaya me’chyuta || 1.21 ||

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् ।
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ॥ १-२२ ॥ ॥

 yāvadētānnirīkṣē'haṁ yōddhukāmānavasthitān|

kairmayā saha yōddhavyamasmin raṇasamudyamē || 1.22 ||

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥ १-२३ ॥ ॥

 yōtsyamānānavēkṣē'haṁ ya ētē'tra samāgatāḥ|

dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddhēryuddhē priyacikīrṣavaḥ || 1.23 ||

21-23 Arjuna said – Oh Krushna! Place my chariot between the two armies

till I see those who are assembled with a desire to fight. (Let me see) with

whom I should I fight in this event of war. I wish to see those who are assembled here eager to fight, and who want to fulfill the desire of the evil-minded Duryōdhanā in this war.

Inference: Up to his point, Arjun appears to be confident of his power and clear about the purpose of war.  Due to that he can order even Krushna (almighty) like an ordinary charioteer. He understands that to get a whole view of situation he should be in mid way. He asserts that Duryodhan has evil mind.

.

sañjaya uvāca

एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥ १-२४ ॥ 

ēvamuktō hṛṣīkēśō guḍākēśēna bhārata|

 sēnayōrubhayōrmadhyē sthāpayitvā rathōttamam||1.24||

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥ १-२५ ॥

 bhīṣmadrōṇapramukhataḥ sarvēṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām|

uvāca pārtha paśyaitān samavētān kurūniti||1.25||

24-25. Sañjaya said – Oh Dhrtarāṣṭrā! Commanded thus by Arjuna, Krsna placed the

great chariot between the two armies in front of great warriors like Bhīṣma and

Drōṇa and all (other) kings and said thus – “Oh Arjuna! See these Kauravas

assembled”.

Inference: Krushna placed the chariot such that Arjun sees Bhishma and guru Drona, thus wanting Arjun to understand that it is not only Duryodhan that he has to fight with. Obviously Krushna is testing Arjun’s weak spot.

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् ।
आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥ १-२६ ॥

tatrāpaśyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān|

ācāryān mātulān bhrātṝn putrān pautrān sakhīṃstathā || 1.26 ||

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि ।
तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥ १-२७ ॥
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् ।

śvaśurān suhṛdaścaiva sēnayōrubhayōrapi |

tān samīkṣya sa kauntēyaḥ sarvān bandhūnavasthitān||1.27||

kṛpayā parayā''viṣṭō viṣīdannidamabravīt |

26-7. There Arjuna saw fathers, grandfathers’ teachers, uncles, brothers,

sons, grandsons, friends, fathers-in-law, and well-wishers assembled in

the two armies. Having seen all these relatives assembled, Arjuna was

overpowered by deep attachment. Grieving he said the following (words).

Inference:

On seeing the close relatives in both armies, who will be killed in the war, Arjun was saddened due to his attachment to them and said as follows.(in the next part)

Utilitarian:

In any of the war fought by Arjun so far never worried about the consequences. As soon as he saw his teacher and grandfather about to be  killed in the war he started thinking about the evils of the war of the war.
The ramifications seems different when perspective changes.