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TEXT 1 arjuna uvaca
SYNONYMS  arjunah--Arjuna;
uvaca--said;
jyayasi--speaking very highly; cet--although;
karmanah--than
fruitive action; te--Your; mata--opinion;
buddhih--intelligence;
janardana--O Krsna; tat--therefore;
kim--why; karmani--in
action; ghore--ghastly; mam--me;
niyojayasi--engaging
me; kesava--O Krsna.
TRANSLATION Arjuna said:
O Janardana, O Kesava, why do You urge me to engage in this ghastly warfare,
if You think that intelligence is better than fruitive work?
PURPORT The Supreme
Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna has very elaborately described the constitution
of the soul in the previous chapter, with a view to deliver His intimate
friend Arjuna from the ocean of material grief. And the path of realization
has been recommended: buddhi-yoga, or Krsna consciousness. Sometimes
Krsna consciousness is misunderstood to be inertia, and one with such a
misunderstanding often withdraws to a secluded place to become fully Krsna
conscious by chanting the holy name of Lord Krsna. But without being trained
in the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, it is not advisable to chant
the holy name of Krsna in a secluded place, where one may acquire only
cheap adoration from the innocent public. Arjuna also thought of Krsna
consciousness or buddhi-yoga, or intelligence in spiritual advancement
of knowledge, as something like retirement from active life and the practice
of penance and austerity at a secluded place. In other words, he wanted
to skillfully avoid the fighting by using Krsna consciousness as an excuse.
But as a sincere student, he placed the matter before his master and questioned
Krsna as to his best course of action. In answer, Lord Krsna elaborately
explained karma-yoga, or work in Krsna consciousness, in this Third
Chapter.
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