Chapter 5 · Karma Sannyasa Yoga - The Yoga of Renunciation of ActionArjuna
Verse 1
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 5, श्लोक 1
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
सन्न्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि।
यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम्॥
Transliteration
Sannyasam Karmanam Krishna Punar-Yogam Cha Shamsasi.
Yach-Chhreya Etayor-Ekam Tan-Me Bruhi Sunishchitam.
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
सन्न्यासम्sannyasamrenunciation
कर्मणाम्karmanamof actions
कृष्णkrishnaO Krishna
पुनःpunahagain
योगम्yogamyoga (selfless action)
चchaand
शंससिshamsasiYou praise
यत्yatwhich
श्रेयःshreyahbetter/superior
एतयोःetayohof these two
एकम्ekamone
तत्tatthat
मेmeto me
ब्रूहिbruhitell
सुनिश्चितम्sunishchitamdefinitively
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
अर्जुन बोले — हे कृष्ण! आप कर्मों के संन्यास की और फिर कर्मयोग की प्रशंसा करते हैं। इन दोनों में जो निश्चित रूप से श्रेष्ठ हो, वह एक बात मुझे बताइए।
English Translation
Arjuna said: O Krishna, You praise renunciation of actions and also selfless action (yoga). Tell me definitively which one of these two is better.
Commentary (टीका)
Arjuna is confused because Krishna has praised both renunciation of action and the path of selfless action. This honest question reflects a genuine seeker's dilemma — should one withdraw from the world or engage in it? This question sets the stage for Krishna to reconcile these apparently contradictory paths.