Chapter 3: Karma Yoga, verse 1
अर्जुन उवाच arjuna uvācha
ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन।
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥
Say itjyāyasī chet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana
tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśhava
Translation
Arjuna said: If Thou thinkest that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O Kesava, doest Thou ask me to engage in this terrible action?
Swami Sivananda
Arjuna said, "O Janardana (Krishna), if it is Your opinion that wisdom is superior to action, why do You urge me to take such horrible action, O Kesava?"
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
Arjuna said, "O Krsna, if you deem knowledge to be superior to action, why then do you urge me to engage in this terrible deed?"
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
Arjuna said, "O Janardana, if you hold knowledge to be superior to action, then why do you engage me in such terrible action, O Kesava?"
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
Arjuna questioned: My Lord! If wisdom is superior to action, why do you advise me to engage in this terrible fight?
Shri Purohit Swami
अर्जुन बोले -- हे जनार्दन! अगर आप कर्मसे बुद्धि- (ज्ञान-) को श्रेष्ठ मानते हैं, तो फिर हे केशव ! मुझे घोर कर्ममें क्यों लगाते हैं ? आप अपने मिले हुए-से वचनोंसे मेरी बुद्धिको मोहित-सी कर रहे हैं। अतः आप निश्चय करके उस एक बात को कहिये, जिससे मैं कल्याणको प्राप्त हो जाऊँ।
Swami Ramsukhdas
हे जनार्दन यदि आपको यह मान्य है कि कर्म से ज्ञान श्रेष्ठ है तो फिर हे केशव आप मुझे इस भयंकर कर्म में क्यों प्रवृत्त करते हैं
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.