Bhagavad Gita · Arjuna Vishada YogaChapter 1, Shloka 21 (1.21)

Arjuna's first words — a command. Arjuna's first sentence in the Gita is a direct command: "place the chariot in the middle." This is the language of a confident warrior — no crisis yet, no doubt.

A command to the Lord — Madhusudana's lovely insight. Madhusudana Sarasvati sees a deep feeling of devotion here: Arjuna is giving a command to the sarveshvara (Lord of all)! What is impossible for devotees, when even the Lord obeys their commands? By this the Pandavas' victory is certain. Krishna — whom the Gita will later reveal as Bhagavan — here listens to a command like a charioteer. This is a picture of the Lord's humility and of his love for the devotee (in the Vishishtadvaita and bhakti traditions this is called saulabhya — accessibility).

"Acyuta" — why this name? Acyuta means one who never falls or moves from his place. Madhusudana gives a two-sided interpretation:

1. As if Krishna might worry, "if I take the chariot between the two armies, the enemy will knock me off the chariot" — Arjuna says: "you are Achyuta — never falling, in place, time or object; who can make you fall?"
2. At the same time, by saying "Achyuta", Arjuna also hints that Krishna is always unchanging — he will not even become angry at being given a command.

"Mahīpate" — addressing Dhritarashtra. Sanjaya again calls Dhritarashtra "O lord of the earth". Madhusudana reads a sharp meaning here: Arjuna acts with thought (instead of doing it himself, he asks Krishna) — skill in policy and dharma; whereas you (Dhritarashtra) took others' kingdom without thinking — so in the absence of policy and dharma, there is no victory for you. This is the commentary's reading.

A hidden irony. Arjuna asks for the chariot to be taken to the middle so that he can see the enemy. He does not know that this very seeing will shake his whole resolve. The place in the middle — between the two armies — also becomes a symbol for the Gita: neither this side nor that; the place of decision.