Shloka 24
Karma-Yoga, Yajña-Cakra, and the Governance of Desire (कर्मयोग–यज्ञचक्र–कामनिग्रह)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत भीष्मपर्वके अन्तर्गत श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतापर्वमें धतराष्ट्र-संजय- संवादविषयक चौबीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,संजय उवाच एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत । सेनयोरुभयोर्म ध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् संजय बोले--हे धृतराष्ट्र! अर्जुनद्वारा इस प्रकार कहे हुए महाराज श्रीकृष्णचन्द्रने दोनों सेनाओंके बीचमें भीष्म और द्रोणाचार्यके सामने तथा सम्पूर्ण राजाओंके सामने उत्तम रथको खड़ा करके इस प्रकार कहा कि “हे पार्थ! युद्धके लिये जुटे हुए इन कौरवोंको देख“
sañjaya uvāca | evam ukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata | senayor ubhayor madhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam ||
Sanjaya said: O Bharata (Dhritarashtra), thus addressed by Gudakesha (Arjuna), Hrishikesha (Krishna) positioned the excellent chariot between the two armies. By placing it where the foremost elders and teachers stood, he sets the stage for Arjuna to confront, with full moral clarity, those he must face in battle—turning a military moment into an ethical reckoning.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ethical setting of the Gita: before action, one must see reality clearly. Krishna’s act of placing the chariot between the armies symbolizes deliberate, conscious engagement with duty (dharma) rather than impulsive action or avoidance.
After Arjuna requests to view those assembled for war, Krishna drives and stations the chariot between the two armies, positioning Arjuna to look directly at the opposing forces and the people involved, initiating the crisis that leads to the Gita’s teaching.