Chapter 3 · Verse 1

Path of Selfless Service

अर्जुन उवाच ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन। तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव

arjuna uvācha jyāyasī chet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśhava

Word Meanings

arjunaḥ uvācha jyāyasī chet karmaṇaḥ te matā buddhiḥ janārdana tat kim karmaṇi ghore mām niyojayasi keśhava

Translation

Arjuna said: O Janardana, if You consider wisdom to be superior to action, then why do You urge me to engage in this terrible deed, O Keshava?

Commentary

ज्यायसी superior? चेत् if? कर्मणः than action? ते by Thee? मता thought? बुद्धिः knowledge? जनार्दन O Janardana? तत् then? किम् why? कर्मणि in action? घोरे terrible? माम् me? नियोजयसि Thou engagest? केशव O Kesava.Commentary In verses 49? 50 and 51 of chapter II? Lord Krsihna has spoken very highly about Buddhi Yoga. He again asks Arjuna to fight. That is the reason why Arjuna is perplexed now.