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Bhagavad Gita 3.3

Chapter 3, Verse 3

Part of 3: Karm Yogकर्मयोग

श्री भगवानुवाच लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ। ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम्॥

Transliteration

śhrī bhagavān uvācha loke’smin dvi-vidhā niṣhṭhā purā proktā mayānagha jñāna-yogena sāṅkhyānāṁ karma-yogena yoginām

Meaning

The Blessed Lord said, "In this world, there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless one: the path of knowledge of the Sankhyas and the path of action of the Yogins."

Word-by-word meaning
śhrī-bhagavān uvāchathe Blessed Lord saidlokein the worldasminthisdvi-vidhātwo kinds ofniṣhṭhāfaithpurāpreviouslyproktāexplainedmayāby me (Shree Krishna)anaghasinlessjñāna-yogenathrough the path of knowledgesānkhyānāmfor those inclined toward contemplationkarma-yogenathrough the path of actionyogināmof the yogis
Commentary

The path of knowledge of the Sankhyas (Jnana Yoga) was described by Lord Krishna in chapter II, verses 11 to 38 the path of action (Karma Yoga) from 40 to 53. Pura Prokta may also mean In the beginning of creation the twofold path was given by Me to this world. Those who are endowed with the four means and who have sharp, subtle intellect and bold understanding are fit for Jnana Yoga. Those who have a tendency or inclination for wok are fit for Karma Yoga. (The four means are discrimination, dispassion, sixfold virutes, and longing for liberation. The sixfold virtues are control of the mind, control of the senses, fortitude (endurance), turning away from the objects of the world, faith and tranillity.)It is not possible for a man to practise the two Yogas simultaneously. Karma Yoga is a means to an end. It purifies the heart and prepares the aspirant for the reception of knowledge. The Karma Yogi should take up Jnana Yoga as soon as his heart is purified. Jnana Yoga takes the aspirant directly to the goal without any extraneous help. (Cf. V.5).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 3?
The Blessed Lord said, "In this world, there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless one: the path of knowledge of the Sankhyas and the path of action of the Yogins."
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 3 of Chapter 3 (Karm Yog — Path of Selfless Service) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.