arjuna uvācha
sannyāsaṁ karmaṇāṁ kṛiṣhṇa punar yogaṁ cha śhansasi
yach chhreya etayor ekaṁ tan me brūhi su-niśhchitam
arjunaḥ uvācha — Arjun said;
sanyāsam — renunciation;
karmaṇām — of actions;
kṛiṣhṇa — Shree Krishna;
punaḥ — again;
yogam — about karm yog;
cha — also;
śhansasi — you praise;
yat — which;
śhreyaḥ — more beneficial;
etayoḥ — of the two;
ekam — one;
tat — that;
me — unto me;
brūhi — please tell;
su-niśhchitam — conclusively
In this verse, Arjuna is talking to Krishna, seeking clarity about two important concepts he has heard from Krishna. One idea is about renouncing work, which means giving up all types of actions. The other idea is about doing work with devotion, also known as 'karm yog' or 'devotional service.'
Arjuna is confused because he feels like these two ideas conflict with each other. If Krishna is saying that one should renounce work, then it seems like he should stop doing everything. But then Krishna also talks about the importance of doing work while being devoted, which makes Arjuna wonder how he can combine both ideas.
In simpler terms, Arjuna is asking Krishna: "Should I completely stop all my actions and just focus on renunciation, or is it better for me to keep working but do it with a devoted heart?" This shows that Arjuna is trying to figure out which path is truly better for achieving peace and happiness.
This confusion reflects a common dilemma many of us face: the challenge of balancing our responsibilities (work) with a deeper sense of purpose or spirituality (devotion). Sometimes, people think that to be spiritual or enlightened, they have to give up everything and just sit and meditate. But others believe that living life with devotion while doing their duties is equally important.
Krishna, in earlier chapters, has explained how the soul is different from the body and how understanding this can help one avoid the suffering of life. He has also pointed out that knowledge leads to understanding, which can help one act without attachments or desires. This means that one can work without being overly concerned about the results of their actions.
Arjuna is caught in this moment of seeking advice from Krishna, who is trying to guide him on how to find peace and purpose in life through either renunciation or through engaged devotion. He wants a clear answer, showing his eagerness to understand the best approach for his life.