Bhagavad Gita · Karma Sannyasa Yoga — The Yoga of Renunciation

Chapter 5, Verse 1

"Bhagavad Gita 5.1" — meaning and explanation.

अर्जुन उवाच | संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि | यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम्

arjuna uvāca . saṃnyāsaṃ karmaṇāṃ kṛṣṇa punaryogaṃ ca śaṃsasi . yacchreya etayorekaṃ tanme brūhi suniścitam

Meaning

5.1 Arjuna said Renunciation of actions, O Krishna, Thou praisest, and again Yoga. Tell me conclusively that which is the better of the two.

।।5.1।। अर्जुन ने कहा हे -- कृष्ण ! आप कर्मों के संन्यास की और फिर योग (कर्म के आचरण) की प्रशंसा करते हैं। इन दोनों में एक जो निश्चय पूर्वक श्रेयस्कर है, उसको मेरे लिए कहिये।।

Explanation

5.1 संन्यासम् renunciation? कर्मणाम् of actions? कृष्ण O Krishna? पुनः again? योगम् Yoga? च and? शंससि (Thou) praisest? यत् which? श्रेयः better? एतयोः of these two? एकम् one? तत् that? मे to me? ब्रूहि tell? सुनिश्चितम् conclusively.Commentary Thou teachest renunciation of actions and also their performance. This has confused me. Tell decisively now which is better. It is not possible for a man to resort to both of them at the same time. Yoga here means Karma Yoga. (Cf.III.2)

Life Lesson

Study Bhagavad Gita 5.1 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

Context

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, verse 1, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.

Bhagavad Gita 5.1

This page presents the Sanskrit verse, transliteration, Hindi meaning, English meaning, and a simple explanation for study. For a fuller understanding, read this shloka in sequence with the rest of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bhagavad Gita 5.1 mean?

5.1 Arjuna said Renunciation of actions, O Krishna, Thou praisest, and again Yoga. Tell me conclusively that which is the better of the two.

What is the life lesson of this verse?

Study Bhagavad Gita 5.1 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

What is the context of this verse?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5, verse 1, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.