1.22. Explanation – 'O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies' – The two armies were standing facing each other to engage in battle. There was such distance between the two armies that one army could shoot arrows, etc., upon the other. The middle ground between those two armies was central from two perspectives: (1) the central point of the width across which the armies were arrayed, and (2) the midpoint between the two armies, from where the Kaurava army stood at the same distance as the Pandava army. Arjuna asks the Lord to station the chariot in such a middle ground so that both armies can be easily observed.
The phrase 'between the two armies' appears three times in the Gita: here (in 1.21), in the twenty-fourth verse of this same chapter, and in the tenth verse of the second chapter. The significance of it appearing three times is that first, Arjuna, with valor, orders his chariot to be placed between the two armies (1.21). Then, the Lord stations the chariot between the two armies and tells him to behold the Kurus (1.24). And finally, it is between the two armies that the Lord delivers the great teachings of the Gita to the grief-stricken Arjuna (2.10). Thus, initially Arjuna possessed valor; then, upon seeing his kinsmen, he became averse to fighting due to attachment; and in the end, he received the supreme teachings of the Gita from the Lord, which removed his delusion. This implies that wherever a person is situated and in whatever circumstances, remaining right there, one can properly utilize the prevailing situation, become desireless, and attain the Supreme Lord. For the Lord remains ever uniformly present in all circumstances.
'...so that I may behold those who have come here... in this effort of war' – For how long should the chariot remain stationed between the two armies? Regarding this, Arjuna says, "Keep the chariot standing there until I have seen all those kings who have come, along with their forces, desirous of war and standing in the Kaurava army. In this endeavor of war, with whom must I fight? Among them, who are equal to me in strength? Who are lesser? And who are greater? Let me see them all."
Here, by the word 'desirous of war,' Arjuna is saying, "We had considered peace, but they did not accept the proposal for peace because their minds harbor a greater desire for war. Therefore, let me see them—with what strength do they cherish the desire to fight?"
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