Chapter 5, Verse 1
अर्जुन उवाच |
संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि |
यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् ॥1॥
arjuna uvāca
saṃnyāsaṃ karmaṇāṃ kṛṣṇa punaryogaṃ ca śaṃsasi
yacchreya etayorekaṃ tanme brūhi suniścitam
"Arjuna said: O Krishna, You praise the renunciation of actions, and again, Karma-yoga. Tell me with certainty which one of these two is better for me."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 5.1 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 5.1 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
Arjuna is at a crossroads of understanding. In the previous chapters, Krishna spoke of the importance of knowledge and the renunciation of the sense of doership (Sannyasa), but also insisted that Arjuna perform his duty on the battlefield (Yoga). Arjuna perceives these as two distinct and contradictory paths: one involving the cessation of physical activity and the other involving active engagement. He asks for a definitive answer ('sunishcitam') on which path leads to the 'shreyas' (the ultimate good).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 5.1?
Arjuna said: O Krishna, You praise the renunciation of actions, and again, Karma-yoga. Tell me with certainty which one of these two is better for me.