Here, Sanjaya, the narrator, describes the immediate fulfillment of Arjuna’s command. The twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth verses, beginning with the Evam Ukto Hrishikesho verse, show the divine Lord acting as the perfect servant to his dear friend. The loving precision of Krishna’s action in the Evam Ukto Hrishikesho verse is what will ultimately trigger Arjuna’s profound despair.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच
एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥ २४ ॥Transliteration
sañjaya uvāca
evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata |
senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam || 24 ||Word for Word Translation
sañjayaḥ uvāca – Sanjaya said; evam – thus; uktaḥ – addressed; hṛṣīkeśaḥ – Lord Krishna; guḍākeśena – by Arjuna; bhārata – O descendant of Bharata; senayoḥ – of the armies; ubhayoḥ – of both; madhye – in the midst; sthāpayitvā – having placed; ratha-uttamam – the finest chariot.
English Translation
Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, having been thus addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krishna drew up the finest of chariots in the midst of the armies of both parties.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Evam Ukto Hrishikesho verse is a beautiful study in divine irony and love. Sanjaya, in his narration to the blind king, uses two significant names:
- Hrishikesha (Krishna): The “Master of the Senses.” He is the supreme controller of everything.
- Gudakesha (Arjuna): One who has conquered sleep, meaning he is always alert, disciplined, and master of his own senses.
The supreme Master of all senses is taking an order from one who has mastered his own senses. This isn’t a contradiction; it’s a depiction of the divine relationship. Krishna, out of love for his devotee Arjuna, willingly assumes the subordinate role of a charioteer. He doesn’t question the command; He executes it perfectly.
And where does He stop? The next verse will clarify, but this one tells us He places the “rathottamam” (the finest of chariots) directly “senayor ubhayor madhye” (in the middle of both armies). He fulfills Arjuna’s request to the letter. This perfect fulfillment is the ultimate act of a divine teacher. Krishna knows that to truly learn, Arjuna must confront the reality of his request head-on. The Evam Ukto Hrishikesho verse shows the master setting the stage for the student’s greatest test.
Conclusion
The Evam Ukto Hrishikesho verse teaches a profound lesson about guidance and getting what we ask for. We often pray for clarity or ask for a better view of our problems, just as Arjuna did. A true guide, like Krishna, doesn’t shield us from the difficult truths that our requests might reveal. Instead, they place us right in the center of our dilemma so that we may see it for what it truly is.
This verse is a beautiful metaphor for how life sometimes gives us exactly what we ask for, not to satisfy our ego, but to force us to confront the deeper questions we’ve been avoiding. Krishna’s act of driving the chariot is an act of grace. He is guiding Arjuna not just to a place on the battlefield, but to the very place where his spiritual journey must begin.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 25 – Bhishma Drona Pramukhatah
