In Bhagavad Gita 3.2, Arjuna says Krishna’s seemingly mixed words confuse him, and asks to be told clearly the one path by which he may attain the highest good.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन
बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे
तदेकं वद निश्चित्य
येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ॥ ३-२ ॥
vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena
buddhiṃ mohayasīva me
tadekaṃ vada niścitya
yena śreyo’hamāpnuyām
English transliteration vyaamishreneva vaakyena
buddhim mohayaseeva me
tadekam vada nishchitya
yena shreyo’hamaapnuyaam ॥ 3.2 ॥
Translation / Meaning
With seemingly contradictory words you seem to confuse my understanding. Tell me decisively that one path by which I may attain the highest good.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| व्यामिश्रेण vyāmiśreṇa | mixed, seemingly contradictory |
| इव iva | as it were |
| वाक्येन vākyena | by words |
| बुद्धिम् buddhim | understanding |
| मोहयसि mohayasi | you confuse |
| इव iva | as it were |
| मे me | my |
| तत् tat | that |
| एकम् ekam | one |
| वद vada | tell |
| निश्चित्य niścitya | decisively |
| येन yena | by which |
| श्रेयः śreyaḥ | the highest good |
| अहम् aham | I |
| आप्नुयाम् āpnuyām | may attain |
Word-wise Chanting
- vyā–miś–re–ṇe–va vāk–ye–na 8 syllables vyaa-mish-re-ne-va vaak-ye-na
- bud–dhiṃ mo–ha–ya–sī–va me | 8 syllables bud-dhim mo-ha-ya-see-va me
- ta–de–kaṃ va–da niś–cit–ya 8 syllables ta-de-kam va-da nish-chit-ya
- ye–na śre–yo–‘ha–māp–nu–yām || 3-2 8 syllables ye-na shre-yo-‘ha-maap-nu-yaam
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 2
Context
Arjuna continues his question from 3.1, asking for a single clear answer.
Meaning
To Arjuna, Krishna’s teaching seems to point both ways: praising knowledge and urging action. He asks for one definite path. The word iva, “as it were,” is significant: he senses that the confusion is in his understanding, not in Krishna’s words. Yet he wants simplicity.
Many seekers want a single rule that removes the need to think. Krishna will give clarity, but not by reducing truth to one formula. He will show how knowledge and action fit together in one integrated life. Real clarity often comes not from choosing one side but from seeing how both belong.
In Practice
When two pieces of good advice seem to conflict, look for the way they might fit together instead of choosing one and discarding the other.
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.