Gita/Chapter 3/Verse 1
The Yoga of Action · 3.1

Arjuna's Confusion

अर्जुन उवाच | ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन। तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव॥
jyāyasī cet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśava
Translation

Arjuna said: O Janardana, O Kesava, why do You urge me to engage in this ghastly warfare, if You think that intelligence is better than fruitive work?

Meaning

Arjuna raises a sincere philosophical question that opens Chapter 3. He wonders: if knowledge is superior to action, why must he fight?

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