Chapter 3 · Verse 1 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.1
Sanskrit
अर्जुन उवाच ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन। तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव।।3.1।।
Transliteration
arjuna uvācha jyāyasī chet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśhava
In plain words
You're paralyzed by the choice between doing nothing and doing something that scares you—between keeping yourself safe and stepping into what feels like chaos. The lesson for you: your deepest wisdom isn't found by hiding from hard action; it's found by acting clearly, from your truest self, even when the path looks dark. The peace you're seeking isn't waiting somewhere else—it's waiting on the other side of the choice you're afraid to make.
Word by Word
Arjuna's question cuts to the heart of spiritual life: if wisdom is truly superior to action, why does Krishna command him into battle? This is the eternal tension between contemplation and engagement that every seeker faces.
The answer Krishna gives will transform how we understand dharma—not as rigid duty imposed from outside, but as sacred action aligned with our deepest nature. When you feel pulled between inner peace and outer responsibility, remember that true wisdom never asks you to abandon the world, but to act within it with clarity and surrender.
Listen
Bhagavad Gita 3.1 — BG 3.1
Your Mantra Prescription
This mantra is prescribed for clarity and purpose. Is that what you're going through?
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