Verse 3.1
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
अर्जुन उवाच। ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन। तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव।।
Transliteration (IAST)
arjuna uvāca | jyāyasī cet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana | tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśava ||
Word-by-Word Meanings
ज्यायसी-superior
कर्मणः-than action
बुद्धिः-intelligence
घोरे-terrible
कर्मणि-in action
नियोजयसि-you engage
Translation
Arjuna said: O Janardana, O Keshava, if You consider knowledge superior to action, then why do You urge me to engage in this terrible action?
Commentary
Arjuna is confused by Krishna's teaching in Chapter 2, where both knowledge and action were praised. He perceives a contradiction between the path of wisdom and the call to fight. This question sets the stage for Krishna's exposition on Karma Yoga.
Themes
karmajnanaduty