BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:1

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:1

 

arjuna uvaca

jyayasi cet karmanas te

mata buddhir janardana

tat kim karmani ghore mam

niyojayasi kesava

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; jyayasi--better; cet--if; karmanah--than

fruitive action; te--by You; mata--is considered;

buddhih--intelligence; janardana--O Krsna; tat--therefore; kim--why;

karmani--in action; ghore--ghastly; mam--me; niyojayasi--You are

engaging; kesava--O Krsna.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Arjuna said: O Janardana, O Kesava, why do You want to engage me in

this ghastly warfare, if You think that intelligence is better than

fruitive work?

 

PURPORT

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna has very elaborately

described the constitution of the soul in the previous chapter, with a

view to delivering His intimate friend Arjuna from the ocean of

material grief. And the path of realization has been recommended:

buddhi-yoga, or Krsna consciousness. Sometimes Krsna consciousness is

misunderstood to be inertia, and one with such a misunderstanding

often withdraws to a secluded place to become fully Krsna conscious by

chanting the holy name of Lord Krsna. But without being trained in the

philosophy of Krsna consciousness, it is not advisable to chant the

holy name of Krsna in a secluded place, where one may acquire only

cheap adoration from the innocent public. Arjuna also thought of Krsna

consciousness or buddhi-yoga, or intelligence in spiritual advancement

of knowledge, as something like retirement from active life and the

practice of penance and austerity at a secluded place. In other words,

he wanted to skillfully avoid the fighting by using Krsna

consciousness as an excuse. But as a sincere student, he placed the

matter before his master and questioned Krsna as to his best course of

action. In answer, Lord Krsna elaborately explained karma-yoga, or

work in Krsna consciousness, in this Third Chapter.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.