Bhagavad Gita

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Karma Sanyasa Yogam: Chapter 5: Verse – 1

Bhagavad Gita - krishna

(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)

All Paths Lead to Supreme Goal, One Has to Choose The Path That Best Suites His State of Mind

अर्जुन उवाच |

संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि |
यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् || 5.1||

Arjuna uvācha

sannyāsaṁ karmaṇāṁ kṛiṣhṇa punar yogaṁ cha śhansasi
yach chhreya etayor ekaṁ tan me brūhi su-niśhchitam|| 5.1||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 5- Ver. 1:

Arjun said: “O Shree Krishna, You praised karma sanyasa (the path of renunciation of acts) and also advised to practise karma yoga” (work with devotion). Please tell me which of the two is the better option.

Explanation

Arjuna’s desire to escape the war against his relatives remained unfulfilled. So, despite Shri Krishna’s clear statement that one cannot avoid action, Arjuna was still looking for a way out of the war. As a result, he considered “renunciation” to mean what most people assume it means: abandoning all other worldly responsibilities.

With this interpretation in mind, he wondered if action renunciation was preferable to karmayoga. If that were the case, he could escape the war for a place of contemplation and achieve self-realization along the way.

Arjuna is unsure if he should fight the battle and is attempting to persuade Krishna to agree with his position that they should both retire to the Himalayas. You gain insight. There are no doubts when you completely comprehend something. When there is a gap in understanding, it causes confusion.

Krishna has also advocated for both activity and renunciation, he tells Arjuna that he must become established in yoga. This complicates Arjuna’s situation. He doesn’t realise that renunciation is the result of doing the right thing.

Renunciation is impossible to practise.

Arjuna is a rajasika with a lot of desires churning around in his head. He has to take the action path. Only someone who has let go of their ambitions and is detached from the world is suitable for the path of wisdom.

Verse & what we can learn

Those who have desires should follow the path of karma yoga. Those who do not have desires should follow the path of karma sanyasa.

To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.

There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There are also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.

In the Next verse, Shri Krishna tells Arjuna which one of the both is superior.

Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…

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