In Bhagavad Gita 5.1, Arjuna says Krishna praises both renunciation of action and the yoga of action, and asks him to say decisively which of the two is better.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण
पुनर्योगं च शंससि
यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं
तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् ॥ ५-१ ॥
saṃnyāsaṃ karmaṇāṃ kṛṣṇa
punaryogaṃ ca śaṃsasi
yacchreya etayorekaṃ
tanme brūhi suniścitam
English transliteration samnyaasam karmanaam krishna
punaryogam cha shamsasi
yachchhreya etayorekam
tanme broohi sunishchitam ॥ 5.1 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: O Krishna, you praise renunciation of action and then again the yoga of action. Tell me definitely which one of these two is better.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| संन्यासम् saṃnyāsam | renunciation |
| कर्मणाम् karmaṇām | of actions |
| कृष्ण kṛṣṇa | O Kṛṣṇa |
| पुनः punaḥ | again |
| योगम् yogam | the yoga of action |
| च ca | and |
| शंससि śaṃsasi | you praise |
| यत् yat | which |
| श्रेयः śreyaḥ | better |
| एतयोः etayoḥ | of these two |
| एकम् ekam | one |
| तत् tat | that |
| मे me | to me |
| ब्रूहि brūhi | tell |
| सुनिश्चितम् suniścitam | definitely |
Word-wise Chanting
- saṃn–yā–saṃ kar–ma–ṇāṃ kṛṣ–ṇa 8 syllables samn-yaa-sam kar-ma-naam krish-na
- pu–nar–yo–gaṃ ca śaṃ–sa–si | 8 syllables pu-nar-yo-gam cha sham-sa-si
- yac–chre–ya e–ta–yo–re–kaṃ 8 syllables yach-chhre-ya e-ta-yo-re-kam
- tan–me brū–hi su–niś–ci–tam || 5-1 8 syllables tan-me broo-hi su-nish-chi-tam
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 5 Verse 1
Context
Chapter 5, the Yoga of Renunciation, opens with Arjuna’s renewed confusion. Chapter 4 praised both renunciation through knowledge (4.41) and action through yoga.
Meaning
Arjuna again asks for one clear answer, as he did in 3.2. Krishna seems to recommend both saṃnyāsa, renouncing action, and karma yoga, acting without attachment. To Arjuna they look like opposite paths. He wants to know which to choose.
Arjuna’s question reflects a natural desire for a simple rule. Krishna’s answer in the following verses will show that the two paths, rightly understood, are not opposites. Renunciation is an inner attitude that can be lived in the midst of action.
In Practice
When faced with two apparently opposite good options, ask whether they share a deeper purpose that could unite them.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of Renunciation). 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.