śrutvā senāṃ vyavasthitāṃ dṛṣṭvā ca yuyutsum paryajigāmaṛṣīḥ । arjunaḥ ।
“Having listened and surveyed the ready and eager armies, Arjuna spoke.”
Structure
śrutvā senāṃ vyavasthitām dṛṣṭvā ca yuyutsum paryajigāmaṛṣīḥ arjunaḥ
arjunaḥ (Arjuna) śrutvā (having heard) vyavasthitām (formed) senām (army) dṛṣṭvā (having seen) ca (and) yuyutsum (the eager to fight) paryajigāma (went around) ṛṣīḥ (the wise one)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| śrutvā | śrutvā | indeclinable | — | having heard |
| senāṃ | senāṃ | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | army |
| vyavasthitām | vyavasthitām | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | stationed |
| dṛṣṭvā | dṛṣṭvā | indeclinable | — | having seen |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| yuyutsum | yuyutsum | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | eager to fight |
| paryajigāmaṛṣīḥ | paryajigāmaṛṣīḥ | verb | √gām · preterite · third | went around |
| arjunaḥ | arjunaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Arjuna |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse marks the beginning of Arjuna's inquiry, prompted by his survey of the armies. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, notes that Arjuna's emotional turmoil arises from his identification with the body and its relations, rather than recognizing his true nature as the ātman. Shankara argues that the ātman is unaffected by the actions of the body, just as a spectator remains uninvolved in the affairs of the actors on stage. In this context, Arjuna's speech is an opportunity for him to realize his true identity as brahman, beyond the dualities of friend and foe, and to understand the nature of action (karma) as a means to achieve liberation. Shankara's non-dual reading of this verse emphasizes the need to look beyond the ephemeral world and to seek the eternal and unchanging reality of the self.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as an expression of Arjuna's devotion to Lord Krishna, who is the Īśvara, the supreme controller of the universe. According to Rāmānuja, Arjuna's inquiry is motivated by his desire to know the Lord's will and to act in accordance with it. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, emphasizes the distinction between the jīva (the individual self) and Īśvara, and sees Arjuna's speech as an opportunity for him to recognize his dependence on the Lord and to seek His guidance. Both Rāmānuja and Madhva highlight the importance of bhakti, or devotion, as the means to achieve spiritual growth and to realize one's true relationship with the divine. In this verse, Arjuna's act of seeking Krishna's counsel is seen as an exemplary model of devotion and surrender.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, views this verse as a call to action, urging individuals to take responsibility for their lives and to act with courage and determination. According to Vivekānanda, Arjuna's speech represents the universal human quest for meaning and purpose, and the need to overcome fear and doubt in order to achieve one's goals. S. Rādhākrishnan, in his philosophical writings, interprets this verse as an expression of the human condition, marked by conflicting desires and values. Radhakrishnan argues that the Bhagavad Gītā offers a practical philosophy for living, one that emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, self-discipline, and selfless action. In this context, Arjuna's inquiry is seen as a model for contemporary individuals seeking to navigate the complexities of modern life and to find a sense of purpose and direction.