3.1 jyAyasI chEth karmaNas thE

SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Chapter 3

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SlOkam – Original

arjuna uvAcha
jyAyasI chEth karmaNas thE mathA budhdhir janArdhana |
thath kim karmaNi ghOrE mAm niyojayasi kESava ||

word-by-word meaning 

arjuna uvAcha – arjuna said
janArdhana – Oh janArdhana!
kESava – Oh kESava!
karmaNa:  than karma 
budhdhi: – being situated in knowledge
jyAyasI – as best
thE – for you
mathA chEth – if it is strong opinion
thath  – in that case
gOrE – cruel
karmaNi – activities such as battle etc
kim – why
mAm – me
niyOjasi – engaging

Simple Translation 

Oh janArdhana! Oh kESava! if it is your strong opinion that being situated in knowledge is best in comparison to the cruel activities such as battle etc, in that case why are you engaging me in such battle?, ( said Arjuna)

Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam

Quotes Arjuna:-

‘If your creed, Janardanā[1. The 128th name of God. One etymology is ‘Dasyu-trānāj-Janārdanaḥ‘ (Bhārata. Ud. Parva. 71-6.]! be, that Knowledge is superior to Work, why then do you, Keśava! impel me to terrible deeds (like war)?’

>> Chapter 3 verse 2

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