February29 – Bhagavadgita Chapter 3; Verses 3.01-3.02 (Day 60) Karma Yoga

 CHAPTER 3

KARMA YOGA

(Yoga of Action)

Lesson 3.1 (Verses 1-7)

अथ तृतीयोऽध्यायः ।   कर्मयोगः

February 29 – Chapter 3; Verses 1-2

February 29 – Day 60

Verse 3.01-3.02

अर्जुन उवाच । 

ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन ।

तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥ ३-१॥ 

Arjuna uvācha
jyāyasī chet karma
aste matā buddhir janārdana
tat ki
karmai ghore mā niyojayasi keśhava (1) 

அர்ஜுன உவாச1 |
ஜ்3யாயஸீ சே1த்11ர்மணஸ்தே1 மதா1 பு3த்3தி4ர்ஜனார்த3|
1த்1கிம் க1ர்மணி கோ4ரே மாம் நியோஜ3யஸி கே1ஶவ || 1 ||

Arjuna said: 

1. If it be thought by Thee that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O Kesava, dost Thou ask me to engage in this terrible action? 

Commentary: In verses 49, 50 and 51 of Chapter II, Lord Krishna has spoken very highly about Buddhi yoga. He again asks Arjuna to fight. That is the reason why Arjuna is perplexed now.  

व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे ।

तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ॥ ३-२॥ 

vyāmiśhreeva vākyena buddhi mohayasīva me
tadeka
vada niśhchitya yena śhreyo ’ham āpnuyām (2) 

வ்யாமிஶ்ரேணேவ வாக்யேன பு3த்3தி4ம் மோஹயஸீவ மே |
1தே31ம் வத3 நிஶ்சி1த்1ய யேன ஶ்ரேயோ
‌ஹமாப்1னுயாம் || 2 || 

2. With these apparently perplexing words You confuse, as it were, my understanding; therefore, tell me that one way for certain by which I may attain bliss. 

Commentary: Arjuna says to Lord Krishna, “Teach me one of the two, knowledge or action, by which I may attain to the highest good or bliss or Moksha.” (Cf.5:1) 

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda [verses 1-2] 

The pendulum swings from one extreme to the other – that is its nature. The subtle middle path where the opposites blend is elusive, and the gross mind refuses even to believe in it or see it. We all know what is activity. We all know what knowledge is. With us knowledge is in the mind and action flows from the limbs. We do not even feel it necessary to find their point of contact, or the subtle middle path where God meets man, where the divine meets and blends into life, forming divine life. In it there is no contradiction between knowledge and action. On the contrary, knowledge is action.

In the absence of true understanding, confusion is quite natural; it is inherent in the very nature of the mind, but the vain ego always tries to blame it on others! Kṛṣṇa did not confuse Arjuna; the confusion is in Arjuna’s own mind. This is extremely difficult to see in the initial stages of our spiritual progress.

The disciple (Arjuna) is yet keen on attaining śreyas (the ultimate good). Whenever we are on the horns of a dilemma (even a real one), we should look for the path that will lead us to our ultimate spiritual good, the. śreya-marga. Much of our misery is due to the fact that very often we are satisfied with superficial solutions which yield immediate satisfaction, though it may be temporary and unsatisfactory in the long run. The sincere spiritual aspirant has his eyes rivetted on śreyas.

-*-

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