अर्जुन उवाच | संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि | यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् || १ ||
arjuna uvāca sannyāsaṃ karmaṇāṃ kṛṣṇa punar yogaṃ ca śaṃsasi yac chreya etayor ekaṃ tan me brūhi suniścitam
arjunaḥ uvāca—Arjuna said; sannyāsam—renunciation; karmaṇām—of all activities; kṛṣṇa—O Krishna; punaḥ—again; yogam—devotional service; ca—also; śaṃsasi—You are praising; yat—which; śreyaḥ—is more beneficial; etayoḥ—of these two; ekam—one; tat—that; me—unto me; brūhi—please tell; suniścitam—definitely.
“Arjuna said: O Krishna, You praise the renunciation of actions and also the path of yoga (action). Tell me conclusively which one of these two is more beneficial.”
Arjuna's question is born of genuine confusion. In Chapter 3 Krishna advocated action (Karma Yoga), and now he seems to praise renunciation (Sannyasa). The apparent contradiction troubles Arjuna. This verse sets up the entire theme of Chapter 5: the reconciliation of the path of knowledge-renunciation with the path of selfless action.
Many spiritual seekers face Arjuna's dilemma: should I withdraw from the world or engage fully? Krishna's answer will clarify that both paths converge at inner renunciation — releasing ownership of results while continuing to act.