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Bhagavad-gītā 1.24

सञ्जय उवाच एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत । सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥ २४ ॥
sañjaya uvāca
[sanjaya uvaacha]
evam ukto hṛṣīkeśo
[evam ukto hrisheekesho]
guḍākeśena bhārata
[gudaakeshena bhaarata]
senayor ubhayor madhye
[senayor ubhayor madhye]
sthāpayitvā rathottamam
[sthaapayitvaa rathottamam]
Word-for-word
sañjayaḥ uvāca — Sañjaya said evam — thus uktaḥ — addressed hṛṣīkeśaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa guḍākeśena — by Arjuna bhārata — O descendant of Bharata senayoḥ — of the armies ubhayoḥ — both madhye — in the midst sthāpayitvā — placing ratha - uttamam — the finest chariot .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sañjaya uvāca
sañjayaḥ uvāca
Sañjaya said
evam ukto hṛṣīkeśo
evam
thus
uktaḥ
addressed
hṛṣīkeśaḥ
Lord Kṛṣṇa
guḍākeśena bhārata
guḍākeśena
by Arjuna
bhārata
O descendant of Bharata
senayor ubhayor madhye
senayoḥ
of the armies
ubhayoḥ
both
madhye
in the midst
sthāpayitvā rathottamam
sthāpayitvā
placing
ratha - uttamam
the finest chariot .
Important Words
  • hṛṣīkeśaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa
    Same epithet as v.15 and v.20 — *lord of the senses*. Vyāsa keeps using this particular name in the context of *positioning* and *driving*. The Lord who controls all senses is now controlling the chariot — the body-image of the *senses*. The cosmology of the verse and of the Gītā align.
  • guḍākeśena — by Arjuna
    *Guḍākā* (sleep) + *īśa* (lord) — "conqueror of sleep." An Arjuna epithet meaning *one who has mastered sleep*, i.e., one whose alertness does not lapse. Vyāsa pairs *Hṛṣīkeśa* (lord of the senses) with *Guḍākeśa* (lord of sleep) — the two *īśas* face the same chariot. The greater *īśa* serves the lesser.
  • bhārata — O descendant of Bharata
    Sañjaya here addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra as *Bhārata*. Vyāsa keeps reminding the listener: *you, too, are of Bharata's line. The dharma being discussed is yours.* The Gītā is told within a frame; the frame keeps tapping the listener on the shoulder.
  • sthāpayitvā — placing
    Absolutive of causative *sthā* — *having placed*. Same root as Arjuna's imperative *sthāpaya* (v.21). The verbal echo is exact: Arjuna said *sthāpaya*, Kṛṣṇa did *sthāpayitvā*. The Lord answers the prayer in the same verbal root with which it was made.
  • ratha - uttamam — the finest chariot
    *Ratha* (chariot) + *uttamam* (highest, supreme). The chariot is called *uttama* — the supreme one. Not because of its wood or its horses but because of who drives it. The Lord's presence is what makes a chariot supreme.
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.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Sañjaya, addressing Dhṛtarāṣṭra as 'Bhārata,' reports Kṛṣṇa's instant compliance: the supreme Lord becomes Arjuna's charioteer in act, complying with his friend's word. The verb stays open (no main verb in this śloka — continues into the next).
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Guḍākeśa = 'one whose hair (keśa) is bound (guḍā)' or, by another tradition, 'conqueror of guḍākā (sleep)' — i.e. unwearied warrior. Hṛṣīkeśa likewise means 'lord of the senses (hṛṣīka).' The pairing is intentional: he who conquers sleep is being heard by the Lord of senses. The verse functions as a half-statement, completed by 1.25 — a common ślokānvaya carryover in narrative passages.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
हे भारत! गुडाकेशेन एवम् उक्तः हृषीकेशः उभयोः सेनयोः मध्ये रथ-उत्तमं स्थापयित्वा (वक्ष्यति इति शेषः) । (O descendant of Bharata, thus addressed by Guḍākeśa (Arjuna), Hṛṣīkeśa, having placed the splendid chariot in the midst of the two armies, [spoke — supplied].)
he bhārata! guḍākeśena evam uktaḥ hṛṣīkeśaḥ ubhayoḥ senayoḥ madhye ratha-uttamaṃ sthāpayitvā (vakṣyati iti śeṣaḥ) | (O descendant of Bharata, thus addressed by Guḍākeśa (Arjuna), Hṛṣīkeśa, having placed the splendid chariot in the midst of the two armies, [spoke — supplied].)
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
सञ्जयः उवाच
sañjayaḥ uvāca
एवम् उक्तः हृषीकेशः गुडाकेशेन भारत । सेनयोः उभयोः मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथ-उत्तमम् ॥
evam uktaḥ hṛṣīkeśaḥ guḍākeśena bhārata | senayoḥ ubhayoḥ madhye sthāpayitvā ratha-uttamam ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
एवम् evam ind. (indeclinable) thus
उक्तः uktaḥ √वच् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. addressed, spoken to
हृषीकेशः hṛṣīkeśaḥ हृषीकेश (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa)
गुडाकेशेन guḍākeśena गुडाकेश (m.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by Guḍākeśa (= conqueror of sleep, Arjuna)
भारत bhārata भारत (m.) voc.sg. (vocative singular) O descendant of Bharata
सेनयोः senayoḥ सेना (f.) gen.du. (genitive dual) of the two armies
उभयोः ubhayoḥ उभय pron. (pronoun) gen.du. (genitive dual) of both
मध्ये madhye मध्य (n.) loc.sg. (locative singular) in the middle
स्थापयित्वा sthāpayitvā √स्था caus. (causative) abs. (absolutive) having placed
रथ-उत्तमम् ratha-uttamam रथ (m.) + उत्तम adj. acc.sg. (accusative singular)m., karmadhāraya cpd. (compound) the supreme chariot
Purport

In this verse Arjuna is referred to as Guḍākeśa. Guḍākā means sleep, and one who conquers sleep is called guḍākeśa. Sleep also means ignorance. So Arjuna conquered both sleep and ignorance because of his friendship with Kṛṣṇa. As a great devotee of Kṛṣṇa, he could not forget Kṛṣṇa even for a moment, because that is the nature of a devotee. Either in waking or in sleep, a devotee of the Lord can never be free from thinking of Kṛṣṇa’s name, form, qualities and pastimes. Thus a devotee of Kṛṣṇa can conquer both sleep and ignorance simply by thinking of Kṛṣṇa constantly. This is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or samādhi. As Hṛṣīkeśa, or the director of the senses and mind of every living entity, Kṛṣṇa could understand Arjuna’s purpose in placing the chariot in the midst of the armies. Thus He did so, and spoke as follows.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
24-25. When Arjuna spoke to him thus, Hṛṣīkeśa, stationing the best of chariots between the two armies, in front of Bhīṣma, Droṇa and all the princes, spoke: See these Kurus gathered here.
Commentary

The Lord, Hṛṣīkeśa, though Himself the controller of everyone’s senses, was thus ordered by Arjuna, controlled just by his words. See how the Lord is controlled by prema! This is the implication of calling the Lord Hṛṣīkeśa. Here is the significance of the word Guḍākeśa. Ākeśa means Viṣṇu (ā), Brahmā (ka) and Śiva (īśa). Guḍākeśa means Arjuna who gives them (ākeśa) the experience of the sweetness of the Lord’s affection just as sugar (guḍā) gives the experience of sweetness. [Note: Literally the word would mean “He who is the sugar for Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva.”] Therefore, Guḍākeśa refers to he who, by bringing Kṛṣṇa under his control, gave Viṣṇu, Brahmā, and Śiva the opportunity to experience Kṛṣṇa’s sweetness. Where the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, the crown jewel, source of all avatāras, being controlled by prema, followed the orders of His servant Arjuna, how could Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Śiva, His mere expansions as guṇa avatāras, show off any of their powers? Instead, they felt they had reached the pinnacle of perfection by manifesting affectionate feelings for the Lord themselves (inspired by Arjuna). The lord of the spiritual sky (Mahāviṣṇu) said:

dvijātmamajā me yuvayor didṛkṣuṇā I brought the brāhmaṇa’s sons here because I wanted to see the two of you.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
24-25. When Arjuna, Guḍakeśa, spoke to him thus, Hṛṣīkeśa, stationing the best of chariots between the two armies, in front of Bīṣma, Droṇa and all the princes, spoke: See these Kurus gathered here.
Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Translation
Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, having thus been addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krsna drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties. (cn/DS) Another symbol is shown here: Arjuna's name is Gudakesa, the conquerer of sleep or ignorance. This shows that his next show of ignorance will soon be conquered by Krsna the Master of the senses.
Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Krishna draws the chariot – Krishna (Hrsikesa) draws the chariot on request of Arjuna (Gudakesh) in

the midst of the armies of both parties

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
1.24 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
1.20 - 1.25 Arjuna said - Sanjaya said Thus, directed by him, Sri Krsna did immediately as He had been directed, while Bhisma, Drona and others and all the kings were looking on. Such is the prospect of victory for your men.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
1.12 1.29 Sri Abhinavgupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
1.24. Sanjaya said Thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna, having stationed that best of chariots, O Dhritarashtra, in the midst of the two armies.
Commentary

1.24 एवम् thus? उक्तः addressed? हृषीकेशः Hrishikesha? गुडाकेशेन by Gudakesha (the coneror of sleep? Arjuna)? भारत O Bharata (descendant of king Bharata? Dhritarashtra)? सेनयोः of the armies? उभयोः of both? मध्ये in the middle? स्थापयित्वा having stationed? रथोत्तमम् best of chariots.No Commentary.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
1.24 1.25 Sanjay said O scion of the line of Bharata (Dhrtararastra), Hrsikesa, being told so by Gudakesa (Arjuna), placed the excellent chariot between the two armies, in front of Bhisma and Drona as also all the rulers of the earth, and said, 'O Partha (Arjuna), see these assempled people of the Kuru dynasty.'
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
1.24 Sanjaya said: "Having listened to the request of Arjuna, Lord Shri Krishna drew up His bright chariot exactly in the midst between the two armies,
Related values & verses
Related values
Dana (Charity / Generosity)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Yajña (Sacrifice / Spirit of Offering)Discriminative WisdomSeva (Service / Selfless Action)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)
Related verses
BG 1.21-22 BG 9.22 BG 18.58 SB 1.15.15 SB 1.9.37 SB 10.46.3 CC Madhya 22.93 CC Madhya 12.156 CC Ādi 4.21 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.3Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.11
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Kṛṣṇa Himself drives the chariot of the surrendered soul; at every difficult juncture, He is at the reins.
Practical Applications
  • When you feel out of control, remember that Kṛṣṇa drives the chariot of any soul who turns to Him.
  • Hand over one decision today — speak the words 'Kṛṣṇa, you decide' and act on what arises.
  • Re-read a passage where Kṛṣṇa explicitly takes care of His devotees (BG 9.22) before bed.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose hands are on the reins of my life right now — mine, or Kṛṣṇa's?
  • Where am I trying to drive the chariot myself when Kṛṣṇa is offering to take it?
Analogy

Sañjaya names the moment exactly: *thus addressed, Kṛṣṇa drew up the chariot in the middle*. The Lord of the senses obeys the soul's request for vantage. This is the deepest of the Gītā's reversals: the master responds first, the disciple speaks second.

Stories
Kṛṣṇa as charioteer

Before the war, Kṛṣṇa offered both sides a choice: He Himself, unarmed, on one side; or His entire Yādava army on the other. Duryodhana, choosing what he thought was strength, took the army. Arjuna, choosing what was actually strength, took Kṛṣṇa unarmed. As part of that vow, Kṛṣṇa would not fight — but He would drive Arjuna's chariot.

So here in verse 24, the Supreme Lord of all worlds is reduced — by His own promise — to a charioteer. The position is humble in caste terms: a *sūta* is a lower role than a *kṣatriya*. The Lord takes the lower role to bring His devotee to the higher view. *Hṛṣīkeśaḥ* — the lord of the senses — drives the chariot of one set of senses, so that those senses may finally *see*.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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