Bhagavad Gita BG 1.21
Chapter 1, Verse 21 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते । अर्जुन उवाच सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥ २१ ॥
hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyam idam āha mahī-pate arjuna uvāca senayor ubhayor madhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me 'cyuta
Meaning
Then Arjuna spoke these words to Krishna, O lord of the earth: O Achyuta (the infallible), please place my chariot between the two armies.
Understanding
The great Gita dialogue begins. Arjuna addresses Krishna as 'Achyuta' — the infallible, the one who never slips or falls. This is the first of many names he uses for Krishna in this chapter. His request is simple: place the chariot between the two armies. But this seemingly tactical request sets the stage for his complete breakdown — for in doing so, he will see his beloved relatives across the field.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| हृषीकेशम् | hṛṣīkeśam | Krishna (master of the senses) |
| महीपते | mahī-pate | O lord of the earth (Dhritarashtra) |
| सेनयोः | senayor | of the two armies |
| मध्ये | madhye | in the middle / between |
| अच्युत | acyuta | O Achyuta — the infallible, the unfailing one (Krishna) |
| तदा | tadā | then / at that time |
| वाक्यम् | vākyam | these words / this speech |
| इदम् | idam | this / the following |
| आह | āha | said / spoke |
| अर्जुन उवाच | arjuna uvāca | Arjuna said (speaker attribution) |
| रथम् | ratham | the chariot |
| स्थापय | sthāpaya | please place / station / position |
| मे | me | my / for me |
| उभयोः | ubhayoḥ | of both (armies) |