Verse 1
अर्जुन उवाच | संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि | यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् || १ ||
Transliteration
arjuna uvāca sannyāsaṃ karmaṇāṃ kṛṣṇa punar yogaṃ ca śaṃsasi yac chreya etayor ekaṃ tan me brūhi suniścitam
Synonyms
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.
Translation
“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.”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
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.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
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.