Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 20 (BG 1.20) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

In these one and a half verses, we find the description of Arjuna, the hero of the Mahabharata war, entering the battlefield. The precise timing and manner of his entry are also recorded here. The arrows had not yet begun to fly, but that moment was not far away. It was the most intensely tense moment of the war. The crisis had reached its peak. At such a time, Arjuna, bearing the monkey-emblazoned banner, requested Lord Sri Krishna to drive his chariot to the middle ground between both armies. In ancient times, every great warrior on the battlefield had his own distinctive and renowned standard flag. When the banner was hoisted and the charioteer sat in the chariot, the enemy could identify him. According to the rules of that time, an ordinary soldier could not shoot arrows at a commander. Each warrior fought only with warriors of equal rank. The practice of identifying a person through distinctive emblems continues even today on the battlefield. Special insignia are marked on the vehicles and uniforms of high-ranking officers to identify them. The symbol on Arjuna's banner was the monkey. From the description given by Sanjaya, it appears that Arjuna was eager to begin the righteous war. He had taken up his bow, which indicates his readiness for battle.