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Chapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra · 46 verses

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Questions & crisisChapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
1.231.25

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.24

Arjuna asks to survey the armies

सञ्जय उवाच

एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥ २४ ॥

sañjaya uvāca

evam ukto hṛṣīkeśo

guḍākeśena bhārata

senayor ubhayor madhye

sthāpayitvā rathottamam

Translation

Sañjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, having thus been addressed by Arjuna, Lord Kṛṣṇa drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Remembering Kṛṣṇa Constantly

  1. 1Sañjaya said that Kṛṣṇa placed the fine chariot between both armies at Arjuna’s request.
  2. 2Arjuna is called Guḍākeśa because he conquered sleep and ignorance through friendship with Kṛṣṇa.
  3. 3As a great devotee, Arjuna never forgot Kṛṣṇa, whether awake or asleep.
  4. 4Constantly thinking of Kṛṣṇa helps a devotee conquer sleep and ignorance. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or samādhi.
  5. 5As Hṛṣīkeśa, Kṛṣṇa directs everyone’s senses and mind. He understood Arjuna’s purpose and placed the chariot accordingly.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 1, Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra: arjuna asks to survey the armies.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Honest questions open the way to wisdom.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 1.24 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

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The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 1 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.20Arjuna asks to survey the armiesBG 1.21Arjuna asks to survey the armiesBG 2.7The moment Arjuna becomes a discipleBG 6.34The restless mind

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 1.24 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.