Bhagavad Gita Verse 10, Chapter 2

tamuvaacha hrisheekeshaha prahasanniva bhaarata |
senayorubhayormadhye visheedantamidam vachaha || 10 ||
 
Hrishikeesha, as though smiling, spoke these words to the despondent Arjuna, in the middle of the two armies.
 
tam : to him
uvaacha : spoke
hrisheekeshaha : Hrisheekeshaha
prahasan iva : as though smiling
bhaarata : Arjuna
senayor-ubhayor-madhye : in the middle of the armies
visheedantam : despondent
idam : these
vachaha : spoke words
 
The most interesting aspect of this verse is the phrase "as though smiling", and has been interpreted differently by several commentators. The commonly held notion is : Shri Krishna wanted to use Arjuna as a vehicle for delivering the sermon of the Gita, and he smiled because the time for delivering the sermon had come as soon as Arjuna requested him to become his disciple. Another interpretation is that on the one hand, Arjuna is surrendering to Shri Krishna and asking for guidance, but o the other hand he says that he will not fight. Therefore Shri Krishna is smiling on this qualified request from Arjuna.
 
Our journey so far was just the background of the Gita. Starting from the next verse, we are about to delve into the heart of the Gita. Like any good speaker, Shri Krishna has provided an overview of the Gita for us in Chapter 2. Later chapters will delve into these themes in significant detail.
 
We will try our best to understand some of the more abstract verses in this chapter, but let's not worry if we don't understand them completely in the first reading. These verses will reveal new nuances and facets in each reading.

Bhagavad Gita Verse 24-25, Chapter 1

Sanjaya uvaacha
evamukto hrishikesho gudaakeshena bhaarata |
senyorubhayormadhye sthaapayitvaa rathottamam || 24 ||
 
bheeshmadronapramukhataha sarveshaam cha maheekshitaam |
uvaacha paartha pashyaitaansamavetankuruniti || 25 ||
 
Sanjay said:
O descendant of Bharat, having heard Gudaakesha address him, Hrisheekesha positioned his magnificent chariot between the two armies.
 
In front of Bheeshma, Drona and the other kings, he said "O Paartha, behold all the Kuru warriors gathered here".
 
evam-ukto : thus addressed
hrishikesho : conquerer of the senses - Shri Krishna
gudaakeshena : conquerer of sleep - Arjuna
bhaarata : descendant of Bharata - Dhritraashtra
senyorubhayormadhye : between the two armies
sthaapayitvaa : position
rath-uttamam: magnificent chariot
 
bheeshma-drona: Bheeshma and Drona
pramukhataha : in front of
sarveshaam : everyone
cha : and
maheekshitaam : kings
uvaacha : said
paartha : Arjuna, son of Prithaa
pashya : behold
etaan : all
samavetaan: assembled members
kurun : Kuru dynasty
iti : thus
 
Shri Krishna obeyed Arjuna's instructions, like any devoted charioteer should, and positioned their chariot in the middle of the Kaurava and Paandava armies. But he chose an interesting location, he positioned it right where Arjuna could see his fondest relatives, friends and well wishers on the Kaurava side. So now, Arjuna was face to face with the people he had love and respect for, including Bheeshma and Drona.
 
This verse contains the first words spoken by Shri Krishna in the Gita, and reflect his wise and clever personality. Instead of referring to the Kauravas as "sons of Dhritraashtra" as Arjuna and Sanjaya did, he refers to them as "Kurus". This was an interesting choice, because both Kauravas and Paandavas are part of the Kuru dynasty. So Shri Krishna was pointing out the similarity between the two armies rather than their differences.
 
In addition, Shri Krishna wanted to use this opportunity to create the conditions in which he would deliver the teaching of the Gita. He knew that Arjuna's puffed up ego and battle spirit would be challenged by bringing him face to face with warriors like Bheeshma and Drona, who were not just mighty and powerful, but were also people he cared a lot about.