Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.1 ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन
श्लोक 3.1
अर्जुन उवाच ।
ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन ।
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥
arjuna uvāca |
jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste matā buddhirjanārdana |
tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
अर्जुन ने कहा: हे जनार्दन! यदि आप कर्म से बुद्धि (ज्ञान) को श्रेष्ठ मानते हैं, तो हे केशव! आप मुझे इस भयंकर कर्म में क्यों लगा रहे हैं?
Meaning in English
Arjuna said: O Janardana (Krishna), if You consider understanding to be superior to action, then why, O Keshava (Krishna), do You urge me into this dreadful deed?
Bhagavad Gita 3.1 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अर्जुन उवाच | arjuna uvāca | Arjuna said |
| ज्यायसी | jyāyasī | better, superior |
| चेत् | cet | if |
| कर्मणः | karmaṇaḥ | than action |
| ते | te | by you |
| मता | matā | is considered |
| बुद्धिः | buddhiḥ | understanding, knowledge |
| जनार्दन | janārdana | O Janardana (Krishna) |
| तत् | tat | then |
| किम् | kim | why |
| कर्मणि | karmaṇi | in action |
| घोरे | ghore | terrible |
| माम् | mām | me |
| नियोजयसि | niyojayasi | do you engage |
| केशव | keśava | O Keshava (Krishna) |
Explanation
Arjuna asks: O Janardana, if you consider understanding to be better than action, then why do you push me into this terrible deed, O Keshava?
Chapter 2 praised buddhi, a steady understanding, and the sage of settled wisdom. Arjuna hears this as a ranking of knowledge above action and sees a contradiction in being told to fight. His question opens Chapter 3, the chapter of karma yoga. Shankara uses the question to argue that knowledge and ritual action are not to be combined; Ramanuja and Tilak read the reply that follows as showing that knowledge and selfless action belong together.
भावार्थ
अर्जुन ने कहा — हे जनार्दन! यदि आप कर्म से बुद्धि (ज्ञान) को श्रेष्ठ मानते हैं, तो हे केशव, मुझे इस भयानक कर्म में क्यों लगा रहे हैं?
Living it today
When advice seems to contradict itself, ask plainly, as Arjuna did. A clear question is the first step towards a clear decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.1?
Arjuna asks: O Janardana, if you consider understanding to be better than action, then why do you push me into this terrible deed, O Keshava?
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.1?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.1 in daily life?
When advice seems to contradict itself, ask plainly, as Arjuna did. A clear question is the first step towards a clear decision.
Reflected on verse 3.1?
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