Gita 1-21
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मूलम्
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते |
अर्जुन उवाच
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत || १-२१ ||
Meaning
शब्दार्थाः (Word for word)
हृषीकेशम् -- to Hrishikesha (lit. Lord of the senses. Refers to Krishna); तदा -- then; वाक्यम् -- words; इदम् -- this; आह -- said; महीपते -- O King! ; अर्जुनः -- Arjuna; उवाच -- said; सेनयोः -- among the armies; उभयोः -- among both; मध्ये -- in the middle; रथम् -- chariot; स्थापय -- place; मे -- my; अच्युत -- Achyuta (lit. one who has never fallen. Refers to Krishna);
अन्वयः (Word order)
.... तदा इदं वाक्यम् हृषीकेशं आह -- [अर्जुनः उवाच] "अच्युत! उभयोः सेनयोः मध्ये मे रथं स्थापय"।
Verses 20 and 21 are best read together. The combined अन्वयः is --
अथ शस्त्रसंपाते प्रवृत्ते व्यवस्थितान् धार्तराष्ट्रान् दृष्ट्वा कपिध्वजः पाण्डवः धनुः उद्यम्य,तदा इदं वाक्यम् हृषीकेषं आह -- [अर्जुनः उवाच] "अच्युत! उभयोः सेनयोः मध्ये मे रथं स्थापय"।
अनुवादः (Translation)
.. then said these words to Hrishikesha --
(Arjuna said) " O Achyuta! Place my chariot between the two armies."
Verses 20, and 21 are best read together. The combined translation is
Then, with the battle about to begin, having seen Dhritashtra's men situated (there),
Pandu's son -- the one with a monkey (Hanuman insignia) on his flag, having lifted his bow, then said these words to Hrishikesha --
(Arjuna said) " O Achyuta! Place my chariot between the two armies."
Notes
- Ramanuja does not comment on this verse separately.
- RSDji notes the repeated use of सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये at three places. This one (verse 1-21), verse 1-24 and verse 2-10. He notes that in the first instance, it is in the context of exhibiting Arjuna's valor; in the second, it generates confusion in Arjuna and a tendency to turn away from his dharma; in the third, it results in गीतोपदेश and a removal of his sorrow. RSDji derives the following lesson from this -- The particular situation one finds oneself in, is not the reason for lack of spiritual progress. Whatever be the situation one should find oneself, one can utilize the situation to spiritually progress and obtain God. For, God is not limited by time or place or situation and is equally present in all situations.
Practice Notes
(Balaji)
Whether it is a legitimate lesson to be drawn from the verse or not, I find RSDji's advice very profound. I find it especially useful to remember this, whenever I catch myself thinking "If only the situation had been different, I would have made so much more progress...".