Bhagavad Gita 3.1-2

Sanskrit

ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन । तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥3.1॥व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे । तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ॥3.2॥

Transliteration

jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste matā buddhirjanārdana | tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava ‖3.1‖ vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṃ mohayasīva me | tadekaṃ vada niścitya yena śreyo'hamāpnuyām ‖3.2‖

Meaning

“Arjuna said: If you hold knowledge superior to action, O Janardana, why do you urge me to this terrible deed? With seemingly contradictory words you confuse my understanding. Tell me decisively the one path by which I may attain the highest good.”

Key learning

Arjuna asks an honest question: if understanding is so valuable, why push me into hard action? He wants one simple rule to follow, but real life usually needs two truths held together at once. The confusion is natural and reasonable. Wisdom often comes in pairs rather than as a single slogan.

How to apply this today

When teachers or advisors seem to contradict each other, do not rush to pick just one side. 'Save carefully' and 'enjoy life now' are both true, and the skill is in balancing them. 'Be confident' and 'be humble' both live in every good leader. Before asking 'which one is right,' ask 'how do these two fit together?'

Theme: The Yoga of Action

This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3: Karma Yoga , read all verses in this chapter.

Read the full Bhagavad Gita

Teachmysoul gives you all 700 Gita verses with Sanskrit, plain-English meaning, a key learning and a practical application for daily life, a calm two-minute habit on web, iOS and Android.