Bhagavad Gita · Verse 3.2
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (कर्मयोगः)
(Arjuna said)
व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे । तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ॥२॥
vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṃ mohayasīva me | tadekaṃ vada niścitya yena śreyo'hamāpnuyām ||2||
Complete Shloka Translation
Your words seem mixed and seem to confuse my understanding. Tell me one definite course by which I may attain the highest good.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| व्यामिश्रेणेव | vyāmiśreṇeva | as though mixed |
| श्रेयः | śreyaḥ | the deeper good |
| वाक्येन | vākyena | [term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem... |
| बुद्धिं | buddhiṃ | [term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem... |
| मोहयसीव | mohayasīva | [term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem... |
| मे | me | [term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem... |
| तदेकं | tadekaṃ | [term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem... |
| वद | vada | [term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem... |
| निश्चित्य | niścitya | [term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem... |
| येन | yena | [term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem... |
| श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् | śreyo'hamāpnuyām | [term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem... |
as though mixed
the deeper good
[term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem...
[term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem...
[term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem...
[term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem...
[term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem...
[term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem...
[term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem...
[term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem...
[term] in context of Your words seem mixed and seem...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
The repeated seeming qualifies Arjuna's complaint: he reports how the teaching appears to him. Shreyas concerns the deeper good rather than immediate convenience.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Arjuna seeks a clear course rather than a collection of apparently competing ideas."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
What question would help you clarify an apparently conflicting teaching?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse in your daily career and work life: discharge your responsibilities wholeheartedly as an act of service and social welfare, freeing your mind from selfish anxiety and burnout.