BG 5.1
Arjuna said: You advocate for renunciation of action, yet you also praise Karma yoga. Please tell me conclusively, which of the two is more beneficial for me?
संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि
यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्िचतम्
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अर्जुन उवाच
arjuna uvācha — Arjuna said
Translated as "Arjuna asked" to fit the narrative style of several chapters which start with a question by Arjuna, and the remainder is Krishna's response. -
संन्यासं
sannyāsaṁ — renunciation
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कर्मणां
karmaṇāṁ — of actions
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kṛiṣhṇa — Krishna
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punar — again
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yogaṁ — about Yoga
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cha — also
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śhansasi — you praise
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yach — which
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chhreya — more beneficial
From the Sanskrit word śhreyaḥ. -
etayor — of the two
From Sanskrit word etayoḥ. -
ekaṁ — one
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tan — that
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me — unto me
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brūhi — please tell
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su-niśhchitam — conclusively
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su — thorough, very
The su- particle often acts as a simple intensive prefix, in the sense of "very" -
niśhchitam — ascertained, concluded, determined
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Similar verses
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Krishna said: Renunciation of actions and righteous action both lead to salvation. However, of the two, right actions are superior to renounced actions.
- Verse 5.2
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The ignorant proclaim the path of renunciation to be different from that of righteous action. The learned know that one who has become situated in even one of the two, achieves the result of both.
- Verse 5.4
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Krishna said: One who acts out of duty, without depending on the fruit of their actions, is truly renounced and a knower of Yoga - not one who merely shuns all action.
- Verse 6.1
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Arjuna said: If wisdom is superior to action, why do you urge me to engage in such terrible action, Krishna?
- Verse 3.1