Chapter 3, Verse 1
arjuna uvāca
jyāyasī cet karmaṇaste
matā buddhir-janārdana
tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ
niyojayasi keśava
Arjuna says: If You hold intelligence (buddhi) to be greater than action
(karma), O Krishna, why then do You, O Keshava, urge me to engage in this
terrible deed?
Here you see that Arjuna is listening with deep attention to Lord Krishna. He understands what Krishna is saying, but there is still a certain doubt inside of him. He wants to grasp what the Lord meant by saying that knowledge is greater than action. He starts to wonder, “How can I understand that?” People with a mind focused on the
outside, always think that whatever they do is right. In such a state, if one doesn’t have the knowledge of the Self, one is filled with pride, one is filled with the ego.
Krishna says, “Take in my words! The words that I am saying will bring Enlightenment to your mind. When the mind is pacified, when the mind is single-pointed towards God, then every action is purified. One is free from that action, free from the karma which is generated by that action.”
In Chapter 2 we saw that when Krishna used the term ‘action’, He showed that every action, whether big or small, creates karma. So, if one does any action with the right knowledge, that’s far superior. That’s why here Krishna says to Arjuna, “Hold intelligence (buddhi) to be greater than action (karma).” Everybody looks at whatever they do with the mind. Here Arjuna is completely confused about what the knowledge is and what action is.
In this state of confusion, he says, “O Keshava, Lord of the three gunas! O Lord, you have control over creation, protection and destruction! Why then, did you before urge me to fight?” Arjuna takes refuge at the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna and says, “Janardana, you are the fulfiller of all the prayers. So why did you urge me to fight? You just now told me that knowledge is superior to action and that it is better that I become a Jyaana yogi than do Karma Yoga. This doesn’t make any sense. Let me fill my mind with your knowledge!”
But what is the dharma of a warrior? To fight! You see, life is a constant fight. But how we live life is very important. This Karma Yoga, which Arjuna is referring to here, is the outside action. It is true that buddhi, knowledge, is more important. Without knowledge, one can’t do anything. Here, Krishna is not just talking about the knowledge that you read in a book or that you hear from others. He is also talking about the inner knowledge: how to attain God Consciousness. He calls this inner knowledge, “The yoga of equal-mindedness.”
Arjuna says, “Now I want you to guide me, to instruct me! Oh, Lord of the universe, give me advice! How can I transform this Karma Yoga, which you are asking me to do in the outside world, and do it in a state of surrender? How can I do the work, which you have given me?” This is your life, my dear! This is life itself! You protest, “Oh Swamiji, I can’t chant or think of God throughout the day, because I am so busy at my work.” You are engrossed so much in your work that you forget about the Divine, you forget about God.
This chapter is about how one can work in daily life, accept what God has given, do one’s Karma Yoga outside, yet be separate from it; be focused and be free from that action. This chapter will allow you to realise that all the work that you have to do here, can help you participate in your salvation, in your Realisation.
Bhagavad Gita
