arjuna uvācha
jyāyasī chet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana
tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśhava
arjunaḥ uvācha — Arjun said;
jyāyasī — superior;
chet — if;
karmaṇaḥ — than fruitive action;
te — by you;
matā — is considered;
buddhiḥ — intellect;
janārdana — he who looks after the public, Krishna;
tat — then;
kim — why;
karmaṇi — action;
ghore — terrible;
mām — me;
niyojayasi — do you engage;
keśhava — Krishna, the killer of the demon named Keshi;
In this verse, Arjuna is asking Krishna a very important question. He is confused and troubled about why Krishna is encouraging him to fight in a battle when Krishna has already said that using intelligence and wisdom is a better path than just doing work for rewards or results.
Earlier in their conversation, Krishna has talked about the nature of the soul and how important it is to understand it. He introduced the idea of 'buddhi-yoga' or work done with intelligence and awareness of the divine. This means being spiritually aware while acting, rather than just blindly doing actions for personal gain.
However, Arjuna seems to think that being spiritually aware or enlightened means one should avoid action altogether, like going into seclusion or performing penance in a quiet place. He worries that Krishna’s teachings imply he should not be involved in battle, and so he wishes to escape from the conflict using this misunderstanding of Krishna’s message as a reason.
Arjuna feels like he could find peace by withdrawing from the fight and focusing solely on spiritual practices, instead of engaging in such a violent action. He raises his concerns to Krishna, showcasing his honesty and desire to understand what he should truly do in this difficult situation.
Through this question, Arjuna demonstrates that he cares about making the right decision. He thinks deeply about the meaning of Krishna’s words and wants to know what is truly beneficial for him. He is seeking guidance from Krishna not just as a friend, but as a teacher who can help him clarify his doubts and determine his responsibility.
In response to Arjuna’s questioning and concerns, Krishna later explains that there is a way to engage in action—through what is called 'karma-yoga'—which means performing one's duties without attachment to the results. This approach allows someone to be actively engaged in the world while still being spiritually aware. Krishna emphasizes that everyone must act according to their responsibilities, and that avoiding action altogether isn’t the correct path.