Chapter 3, Verse 1 (Bhagavad Gita 3.1)
Chapter 3: Karm Yog – Path of Selfless Service
Sanskrit Shloka
अर्जुन उवाच ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन। तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव
Transliteration
arjuna uvācha jyāyasī chet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśhava
Word Meanings
arjunaḥ uvācha—Arjun said; jyāyasī—superior; chet—if; karmaṇaḥ—than fruitive action; te—by you; matā—is considered; buddhiḥ—intellect; janārdana—he who looks after the public, Krishna; tat—then; kim—why; karmaṇi—action; ghore—terrible; mām—me; niyojayasi—do you engage; keśhava—Krishna, the killer of the demon named Keshi;
Translation
Arjuna said: If You consider knowledge superior to action, O Janardana, then why do You urge me to engage in this terrible battle, O Kesava?
Meaning & Commentary
This verse captures the fundamental human dilemma between intellectual contemplation and worldly duty. Arjuna represents the seeker who is confused by the apparent duality of life—choosing between the peace of inner wisdom and the chaos of outer responsibility. The lesson here is that spirituality is not an escape from life’s demands, but an integration of wisdom into the very fabric of our duties. By questioning Krishna, Arjuna invites a deeper understanding that true renunciation is not abandoning work, but abandoning the selfish desires that drive it. Ultimately, it teaches that the highest state of being is found in performing one's prescribed duty with a mind anchored in spiritual clarity.