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Arjuna on the Field

Arjuna raises his bow, asks Lord Krishna to station the chariot between the armies, and sees elders, teachers and kin on both sides. The scene where the Gita begins.

In brief

  • Arjuna comes to the field ready, then asks to stand between the armies to see whom he must fight (1.20–23).
  • Lord Krishna places the chariot as asked and says one word, "behold" (1.24–25).
  • What Arjuna sees is his own people on both sides (1.26–27).
  • The Gita starts its teaching from this sight, and the teaching begins when Arjuna asks.

Every hard decision reaches a moment when it stops being an idea and becomes people. Arjuna's moment comes in eight verses. He lifts his bow, asks Lord Krishna to station the chariot between the two armies, and looks. What he sees is not an enemy but his own elders, teachers, relatives and friends, standing on both sides (Gita 1.26–27).

Lord Krishna gives Arjuna what he asks for and adds one word: "behold" (Gita 1.25). The Gita begins its teaching from that sight, and the teaching starts only when Arjuna, having looked, asks for it.

This is the first stop on Arjuna's Journey. The story goes on in Arjuna's Despondency.

The scene has three readings. The simple reading starts from an everyday situation and ends with a practice. The detailed reading takes the verses in order and sets them beside other chapters. The deeper reading looks closely at who acts in the scene, where the readings differ, and the questions the verses raise.

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Simple New to this topic. Plain words, one idea at a time. When Your Resolve Meets a Face: What Arjuna Saw Between the Two Armies Arjuna arrived on the field ready to fight, then asked to stand between the armies and see whom he must face. 4 min · Read → In Depth Know the basics. Verse by verse, with reasons. From a Raised Bow to a Sinking Heart: Arjuna Between the Two Armies (Gita 1.20–27) Arjuna arrives on the field ready: his bow is raised, and he asks to stand between the armies to see whom he must fight (1.20–23). 11 min · Read → Deeper Want the text itself: Sanskrit terms, commentary, close reading. Who Moves the Scene? A Close Reading of Gita 1.20–27 Arjuna sets the terms of the scene: he asks to stand between the armies so that he can see whom he must fight (1.21–22). 15 min · Read → Quick summary Short on time. The whole topic in a few minutes. Arjuna on the Field: Quick Summary Arjuna is ready. He lifts his bow and himself asks Krishna to place the chariot between the two armies (1.20-21). 9 min · Read →

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