अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः।
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः।।1.20।।
अर्जुन उवाच
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत।।1.21।।
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्।
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे।।1.22।।
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः।
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः।।1.23।।
O King, thereafter, seeing Dhrtarastra’s men standing in their positions, with all the weapons ready for action, the son of Pandu, Arjuna, who had the insignia of Hanuman on his chariot-flag, raised his bow and said the following to Hrsikesa.
Arjuna said, “O Acyuta, please place my chariot between both the armies.”
Until I survey those who stand intent on fighting and those who are about to engage in battle with me in this impending war.
These who have assembled here and want to accomplish in the war what is dear to the perverted son of Dhrtarastra, I find them to be intent on fighting.
Osho’s Commentary
And now Arjuna, the man of thought, of awareness, makes his first move. He does not rush into battle. He asks Krishna, his charioteer, his inner consciousness, to place his chariot between the two armies. He says, “Let me see who these people are, who have gathered here, eager to fight.” This is the mark of a thoughtful man. A blind warrior rushes in; a conscious warrior first observes. He wants to be a witness. He is not possessed by the fever of war. He is in a state of cool observation. This very desire to see, to observe, is the seed of the whole Gita. If Arjuna were like Bhima or Duryodhana, there would have been a great battle, but no Gita. The Gita is born out of this pause, this moment of reflection. The violent man never sees his enemy. He projects his own hatred, his own anger, and creates an enemy where there may be none. Arjuna wants to see the real faces. He says, “Let me look upon those with whom I have to fight.” This is a dangerous desire for a warrior. Because when you truly look at your enemy, you may see his humanity. You may see his eyes, his fears, his hopes. You may see a brother. And then, to kill becomes impossible. Arjuna, by asking to see, is unknowingly stepping onto a path that will lead him away from war and into a deep inner crisis.