In Bhagavad Gita 1.22, Arjuna explains why he wants his chariot placed between the armies: he wants to see those who stand ready for battle and whom he must fight.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं
योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यम्
अस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ॥ १-२२ ॥
yāvadetānnirīkṣe’haṃ
yoddhukāmānavasthitān
kairmayā saha yoddhavyam
asmin raṇasamudyame
English transliteration yaavadetaannireekshe’ham
yoddhukaamaanavasthitaan
kairmayaa saha yoddhavyam
asmin ranasamudyame ॥ 1.22 ॥
Translation / Meaning
so that I may look upon those who stand here eager to fight, and see with whom I must contend in this great undertaking of war.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यावत् yāvat | so that, while |
| एतान् etān | these |
| निरीक्षे nirīkṣe | may look upon |
| अहम् aham | I |
| योद्धुकामान् yoddhukāmān | desiring to fight yoddhu (to fight) + kāmān (desiring) |
| अवस्थितान् avasthitān | standing arrayed |
| कैः kaiḥ | with whom |
| मया mayā | by me |
| सह saha | with |
| योद्धव्यम् yoddhavyam | must be fought |
| अस्मिन् asmin | in this |
| रणसमुद्यमे raṇasamudyame | undertaking of battle raṇa (battle) + samudyame (in the effort) |
Word-wise Chanting
- yā–va–de–tān–ni–rī–kṣe–‘haṃ 8 syllables yaa-va-de-taan-ni-ree-kshe-‘ham
- yod–dhu–kā–mā–na–vas–thi–tān | 8 syllables yod-dhu-kaa-maa-na-vas-thi-taan
- kair–ma–yā sa–ha yod–dhav–yam– 8 syllables kair-ma-yaa sa-ha yod-dhav-yam-
- as–min ra–ṇa–sa–mud–ya–me || 1-22 8 syllables as-min ra-na-sa-mud-ya-me
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 1 Verse 22
Context
This verse continues Arjuna’s request from 1.21 and explains its purpose.
Meaning
Arjuna speaks as a responsible warrior. He wants to see his opponents clearly before he fights them. There is nothing weak in this; it is prudence and courage together. Yet the desire to see will lead him further than he expects. When he truly looks, he will see not enemies but family.
To see clearly is the beginning of wisdom, and also the beginning of difficulty. Many troubles in life are survivable only because we do not look at them closely. The Gita begins its healing by making Arjuna look. Real transformation always starts with honest seeing.
In Practice
Choose one matter you have been avoiding looking at directly, a relationship, a habit, a decision. Spend ten quiet minutes simply seeing it as it is.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.