Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionArjuna
Verse 1
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 1
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
अर्जुन उवाच —
ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन।
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव॥१॥
Transliteration
Arjuna Uvacha —
Jyayasi Chet-Karmanas-Te Mata Buddhir-Janardana.
Tat-Kim Karmani Ghore Mam Niyojayasi Keshava.||1||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
ज्यायसीjyayasisuperior
चेत्chetif
कर्मणःkarmanahthan action
तेteby You
मताmataconsidered
बुद्धिःbuddhihintellect/knowledge
जनार्दनjanardanaO Janardana (Krishna)
तत्tatthen
किम्kimwhy
कर्मणिkarmaniin action
घोरेghoreterrible
माम्mamme
नियोजयसिniyojayasiYou engage
केशवkeshavaO Keshava (Krishna)
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
अर्जुन ने कहा — हे जनार्दन! यदि आपकी दृष्टि में कर्म से बुद्धि (ज्ञान) श्रेष्ठ है, तो फिर हे केशव! मुझे इस भयंकर कर्म (युद्ध) में क्यों लगाते हैं?
English Translation
Arjuna said: O Janardana, if You consider knowledge to be superior to action, then why, O Keshava, do You urge me to engage in this terrible action of war?
Commentary (टीका)
Arjuna's confusion stems from Krishna's praise of Jnana Yoga in Chapter 2 while simultaneously urging him to fight. This question reflects a common human dilemma — if spiritual wisdom is the goal, why engage in worldly action at all? Krishna will resolve this by showing that action and knowledge are not opposed but complementary.