Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3, Verse 1-2

अर्जुन उवाच ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन। तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव।।3.1।। व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे। तदेकं वद निश्िचत्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम्।।3.2।।

arjuna uvācha jyāyasī chet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśhava vyāmiśhreṇeva vākyena buddhiṁ mohayasīva me tad ekaṁ vada niśhchitya yena śhreyo ’ham āpnuyām

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Word Meanings

arjunaḥ uvāchaArjun said
jyāyasīsuperior
chetif
karmaṇaḥthan fruitive action
teby you
matāis considered
buddhiḥintellect
janārdanahe who looks after the public, Krishna
tatthen
kimwhy
karmaṇiaction
ghoreterrible
māmme
niyojayasido you engage
keśhavaKrishna, the killer of the demon named Keshi
vyāmiśhreṇa ivaby your apparently ambiguous
vākyenawords
buddhimintellect
mohayasiI am getting bewildered
ivaas it were
memy
tattherefore
ekamone
vadaplease tell
niśhchityadecisively
yenaby which
śhreyaḥthe highest good
ahamI
āpnuyāmmay attain
•••

Translation

Arjuna said: If Thou thinkest that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O Kesava, doest Thou ask me to engage in this terrible action? With this seemingly perplexing speech, you seem to be confusing my understanding; therefore, tell me one certain way by which I may attain bliss.

•••

Commentary

3.1 ज्यायसी superior? चेत् if? कर्मणः than action? ते by Thee? मता thought? बुद्धिः knowledge? जनार्दन O Janardana? तत् then? किम् why? कर्मणि in action? घोरे terrible? माम् me? नियोजयसि Thou engagest? केशव O Kesava.Commentary In verses 49? 50 and 51 of chapter II? Lord Krsihna has spoken very highly about Buddhi Yoga. He again asks Arjuna to fight. That is the reason why Arjuna is perplexed now. 3.2

व्यामिश्रेण perplexing? इव as it were? वाक्येन with speech? बुद्धिम् understanding? मोहयसि (Thou) confusest? इव as it were? मे my? तत् that? एकम् one? वद tell? निश्चित्य for certain? येन by which? श्रेयः bliss (the good or the highest)? अहम् I? आप्नुयाम् may attain.Commentary Arjuna says to Lord Krishna? Tecah me one of the two? knowledge or action? by which I may attain to the highest good or bliss or Moksha. (Cf.V.I).

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Bhagavad Gita 3.1-2 - Chapter 3 Verse 1-2 in Hindi & English