eṣhā te ’bhihitā sānkhye
buddhir yoge tvimāṁ śhṛiṇu
buddhyā yukto yayā pārtha
karma-bandhaṁ prahāsyasi
eṣhā — hitherto;
te — to you;
abhihitā — explained;
sānkhye — by analytical knowledge;
buddhiḥ yoge — by the yog of intellect;
tu — indeed;
imām — this;
śhṛiṇu — listen;
buddhyā — by understanding;
yuktaḥ — united;
yayā — by which;
pārtha — Arjun, the son of Pritha;
karma-bandham — bondage of karma;
prahāsyasi — you shall be released from
In this verse, Krishna is talking to Arjuna and explaining two important ideas: "Sankhya" and "Yoga." Let's break this down.
1. **Sankhya**: This is about understanding life and the true nature of our being. It helps us see that there are deeper truths about who we are beyond just our physical bodies. In simpler terms, it's like getting a big picture understanding of life. For example, it's like knowing we are not just workers or students; we are souls having a human experience.
2. **Yoga**: Unlike the idea of Sankhya, Yoga is about taking that understanding and applying it to how we live our lives. It teaches us to control our desires and our senses so that we can act with purpose. For instance, if you know eating too much junk food is not good for you (your analysis or Sankhya), Yoga would involve making better food choices even if you are tempted by tasty snacks.
3. **Arjuna's Dilemma**: Arjuna was confused and didn't want to fight because he thought killing his relatives would bring him unhappiness. He was focused on his feelings right then—his family, his desire not to hurt them, and what he saw as a loss. But Krishna wants him to look beyond just these feelings to understand his duty as a warrior. He wants him to consider what is ultimately right, which is to fulfill his responsibilities without being tied down by personal desires.
4. **Freedom from Bondage**: Krishna also tells Arjuna that by understanding and practicing this knowledge, he can free himself from the "bondage of works." This means that sometimes we get caught up in our actions and the results they bring. We might work hard to achieve something and become attached to the results—this could be success or failure. Krishna is guiding Arjuna to act without attachment to outcomes; in other words, do your duty without being overly concerned about whether you win or lose. Just focus on doing the right thing.
5. **Eternal Nature**: Krishna emphasizes that the soul, or who we truly are, does not die when the physical body does. We often think of ourselves as the body, but Krishna encourages Arjuna to understand that the true essence—the soul—always exists. It has been there in the past, is here now, and will continue to be. This means that even if he fights and his relatives die, their souls remain unaffected.
Overall, Krishna is helping Arjuna to see that with the right understanding and approach (Sankhya and Yoga), he can navigate his fears and actions in a way that leads to true freedom and peace. It's about acting wisely and not just reacting based on feelings or fear.