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Chapter 3
arjuna uvaca
jyayasi cetkarmanaste math buddhirjanardana
tatkim karmani ghore mam niyojayasi kegava
vyamisreneva vakyena buddhim mohayasiva me
tadekam vada niscitya yena ireyo'hamapnuyam
Arjuna said:-
If you think that knowledge is superior to action, 0 Janardana (Krsna), why then do You make me do a dreadful deed, 0 Kegava (Krsna)? With your complex words You seem to bewilder my mind; therefore, tell me plainly the one principle, by which I may attain the,highest good. 1-2
Comment:-
Janardana:-By this term Arjuna means to suggest, that as God fulfils desires of His devotees He will undoubtedly fulfil his desire also.
Jyayasi cetkarmanaste math buddhirjanardana tatkim karmagi ghore math niyojayasi kegava:-Its a common human weakness, that one puts queries to others with a view to getting a response, which would support his own views. It is cowardice, because valour consists in carrying out the instructions of the preacher whether these are, favourable or hostile. It is because of this weakness or cowardice, that he experiences difficulty in unfavourable circumstances. When he fords himself unable to face the unfavourable circumstances, he disguises himself as a good man i.e., the evil masquerades itself as a virtue. It is very difficult to renounce this sort of evil. In the case of Arjuna also, the evil of the renunciation of his duty has disguised itself as a virtue of non-violence. So, he regards knowledge as superior to action and' asks Lord Krsna, why he urges him to do a savage deed, of fighting.
The Lord, in the thirty-ninth verse of the second chapter, referred to equanimity (evenness of mind), but Arjuna took it to be, knowledge. Therefore, he tells the Lord, that He had already told him, "This, which has been taught to thee, is wisdom concerning Sankhyayoga (Discipline of Knowledge); but now listen to wisdom concerning Karmayoga (Discipline of Action); endowed with which, thou shalt cast off the bondage of action." He had also told him, "Action is far inferior to the Discipline of Wisdom (Knowledge)" (2/49). Thus, if according to the Lord, knowledge is superior to action, He should not urge him to be engaged, even in virtuous actions such as oblation, charity and penance etc., which are sanctioned by scripture. But still, He is urging him to do the savage deed of the slaughter of warriors, in the war. Why?
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