Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionKrishna
Verse 3
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 3
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
श्रीभगवानुवाच —
लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ।
ज्ञानयोगेन साङ्ख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम्॥३॥
Transliteration
Shri Bhagavan Uvacha —
Loke'smin Dvividha Nishtha Pura Prokta Maya-Anagha.
Jnana-Yogena Sankhyanam Karma-Yogena Yoginam.||3||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
लोकेlokein the world
अस्मिन्asminthis
द्विविधाdvividhatwofold
निष्ठाnishthapath/faith
पुराpurapreviously
प्रोक्ताproktadeclared
मयाmayaby Me
अनघanaghaO sinless one
ज्ञानयोगेनjnana-yogenaby the yoga of knowledge
साङ्ख्यानाम्sankhyanamof the contemplative
कर्मयोगेनkarma-yogenaby the yoga of action
योगिनाम्yoginamof the yogis
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
श्रीभगवान ने कहा — हे निष्पाप! इस लोक में मेरे द्वारा पहले दो प्रकार की निष्ठा कही गई है — सांख्ययोगियों (विचारशीलों) के लिए ज्ञानयोग और योगियों (कर्मशीलों) के लिए कर्मयोग।
English Translation
The Blessed Lord said: O sinless one, in this world a twofold path has been taught by Me of old — the path of knowledge (Jnana Yoga) for the contemplative, and the path of selfless action (Karma Yoga) for the active.
Commentary (टीका)
Krishna begins His answer by acknowledging two legitimate spiritual paths. Sankhya here refers to those inclined toward contemplation and discrimination, while Yoga refers to those inclined toward action. Both paths lead to the same goal — liberation. This verse establishes that spiritual life is not one-size-fits-all.