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अर्जुन उवाच संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि। यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्िचतम्।।5.1।।

arjuna uvācha sannyāsaṁ karmaṇāṁ kṛiṣhṇa punar yogaṁ cha śhansasi yach chhreya etayor ekaṁ tan me brūhi su-niśhchitam

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 5, Verse 1
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
Arjuna said, "O Krishna, you praise renunciation of actions and also yoga. Please tell me conclusively which is better of the two."

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: Arjuna asks directly which is better, renouncing action or acting without attachment, since Krishna has praised both, the question is really about which one to actually practice, not just understand.

In life: you can nod along with two pieces of advice that sound compatible in theory, and still not know which one to actually do on Monday morning.

Teaching: when you're stuck between two seemingly valid approaches, ask directly for the practical recommendation, not just the philosophical justification for each.

arjunaḥ uvāchaArjun said
sanyāsamrenunciation
karmaṇāmof actions
kṛiṣhṇaShree Krishna
punaḥagain
yogamabout karm yog
chaalso
śhansasiyou praise
yatwhich
śhreyaḥmore beneficial
etayoḥof the two
ekamone
tatthat
meunto me
brūhiplease tell
su-niśhchitamconclusively

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
5.1 संन्यासम् renunciation? कर्मणाम् of actions? कृष्ण O Krishna? पुनः again? योगम् Yoga? च and? शंससि (Thou) praisest? यत् which? श्रेयः better? एतयोः of these two? एकम् one? तत् that? मे to me? ब्रूहि tell? सुनिश्चितम् conclusively.Commentary Thou teachest renunciation of actions and also their performance. This has confused me. Tell decisively now which is better. It is not possible for a man to resort to both of them at the same time. Yoga here means Karma Yoga. (Cf.III.2)