In Bhagavad Gita 3.1, Arjuna asks Krishna why, if knowledge is superior to action, he is urging him to engage in such a terrible deed as war.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते
मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां
नियोजयसि केशव ॥ ३-१ ॥
jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste
matā buddhirjanārdana
tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ
niyojayasi keśava
English transliteration jyaayasee chetkarmanaste
mataa buddhirjanaardana
tatkim karmani ghore maam
niyojayasi keshava ॥ 3.1 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: O Janardana, if you consider knowledge to be superior to action, then why, O Keshava, do you urge me to engage in this terrible action?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ज्यायसी jyāyasī | superior |
| चेत् cet | if |
| कर्मणः karmaṇaḥ | than action |
| ते te | by you |
| मता matā | considered |
| बुद्धिः buddhiḥ | knowledge, understanding |
| जनार्दन janārdana | O Janārdana |
| तत् tat | then |
| किम् kim | why |
| कर्मणि karmaṇi | in action |
| घोरे ghore | terrible |
| माम् mām | me |
| नियोजयसि niyojayasi | do you engage |
| केशव keśava | O Keśava |
Word-wise Chanting
- jyā–ya–sī cet–kar–ma–ṇas–te 8 syllables jyaa-ya-see chet-kar-ma-nas-te
- ma–tā bud–dhir–ja–nār–da–na | 8 syllables ma-taa bud-dhir-ja-naar-da-na
- tat–kiṃ kar–ma–ṇi gho–re māṃ 8 syllables tat-kim kar-ma-ni gho-re maam
- ni–yo–ja–ya–si ke–śa–va || 3-1 8 syllables ni-yo-ja-ya-si ke-sha-va
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 3 Verse 1
Context
Chapter 2 praised buddhi, wisdom, above mere action (2.49) and described the sage of steady wisdom (2.55–2.72). Chapter 3, Karma Yoga, opens with Arjuna’s confusion about this teaching.
Meaning
Arjuna has heard Krishna praise wisdom and the inner state of the sage, and concludes that knowledge must be better than action. If so, why fight? The question is natural: it seems that the higher path is withdrawal into contemplation, and that action, especially violent action, belongs to a lower level.
Arjuna’s question reveals a common misunderstanding: that spirituality means turning away from action. Chapter 3 answers it at length. Krishna will show that knowledge and action are not rivals; wisdom is meant to transform the way we act, not to excuse us from acting.
In Practice
Notice whether you ever use spiritual ideas to avoid a responsibility. Ask how your understanding could instead improve the way you fulfil it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.