Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 1

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

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

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca .
jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste matā buddhirjanārdana .
tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava ॥

Meaning

Arjuna said: O Janardana, if You hold that wisdom is greater than action, then why, O Keshava, do You urge me to engage in this dreadful action?

Word meanings

ज्यायसी – superior, greater
चेत् – if
कर्मणः – than action
ते – by You
मता – is held, considered
बुद्धिः – knowledge, wisdom
जनार्दन – O Janardana (Krishna)
तत् – then
किम् – why
कर्मणि – in action
घोरे – terrible, dreadful
माम् – me
नियोजयसि – You engage, urge
केशव – O Keshava (Krishna)

Anvaya (word order)

अर्जुनः उवाच — जनार्दन, चेत् ते बुद्धिः कर्मणः ज्यायसी मता, तत् केशव, माम् घोरे कर्मणि किं नियोजयसि ।

Explanation

In the second chapter the Lord explained the immortality of the Self from the Sankhya standpoint and then taught buddhi-yoga, the discipline of acting with an even, steady mind. Arjuna heard this and drew a conclusion: Krishna ranks ‘buddhi’ above action. Hence his bewilderment — if wisdom is higher, why command a ghastly deed like war?

The word ‘ghora’, dreadful, reveals his state of mind. Before him stand his teachers, his grandsire and his kinsmen; war appears to him only as violence and ruin. So he reasons that if knowledge is truly superior, he ought to renounce action and devote himself to the pursuit of knowledge.

According to Shankara, Arjuna takes ‘buddhi’ to mean knowledge of the Self and supposes that knowledge and action cannot be combined, so action should be dropped and knowledge alone embraced. In Ramanuja's reading, Arjuna is puzzled that Krishna praises contemplation of the Self so highly and yet commands harsh action; the two seem at odds.

Arjuna's question is precious because it unlocks the whole teaching of Karma Yoga. His doubt is sincere, and therefore the Lord's reply is deep and unhurried.

Context

The opening of Chapter 3. At the end of Chapter 2 the Lord described the steady-minded sage and buddhi-yoga. Arjuna now lays before Him the confusion this has caused and, in the next verse, asks for a clear answer.

Life lesson

When a teaching seems contradictory, do not bury the doubt; ask with respect and faith. Honest inquiry opens the door to wisdom. Notice too that much of our confusion comes from setting action and knowledge against each other.

Key terms

Buddhi: discriminating intelligence, settled understanding of the Self
Ghora karma: dreadful action — here, the war
Janardana / Keshava: names of Krishna used in address