Mahabharata · 6.25.1-2
॥
Devanāgarī
अर्जुन उवाच
ज्यायसी चेत् कर्मणस् ते मता बुद्धिर् जनार्दन ॥
तत् किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥
व्यामिश्रेणैव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे ॥
तद् एकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयो ऽहम् आप्नुयाम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
arjuna uvāca
jyāyasī cet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana ||
tat kiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava ||
vyāmiśreṇaiva vākyena buddhiṃ mohayasīva me ||
tad ekaṃ vada niścitya yena śreyo 'ham āpnuyām ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अर्जुन उवाचarjuna uvācaArjuna said; Arjuna asked
ज्यायसी चेत् कर्मणस् तेjyāyasī cet karmaṇas teif higher than action, in your view; if, for you, it is better than action
मता बुद्धिर् जनार्दनmatā buddhir janārdanais considered buddhi, O Janardana; is deemed knowledge, O Janardana
तत् किं कर्मणि घोरेtat kiṃ karmaṇi ghorethen why into dreadful action; then why toward a terrible deed
मां नियोजयसि केशवmāṃ niyojayasi keśavado you direct me, Keshava; do you urge me, O Keshava
व्यामिश्रेणैव वाक्येनvyāmiśreṇaiva vākyenaas if with mixed words; as though with contradictory speech
बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मेbuddhiṃ mohayasīva meyou confuse my buddhi; you seem to bewilder my mind
तद् एकं वद निश्चित्यtad ekaṃ vada niścityatell me that one thing decisively; speak one thing with certainty
येन श्रेयो ऽहम् आप्नुयाम्yena śreyo 'ham āpnuyāmby which I may attain the good; by means of which I may obtain the highest good
Translation
Arjuna said: "O Janardana, if you consider buddhi higher than action, then why do you urge me to this dreadful deed, O Keshava? With your seemingly contradictory words you seem to confuse my mind. Therefore tell me decisively one thing: by what means I may attain the highest good?"
Version
270f04042f10 · published Jul 17, 2026, 8:55:05 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Arjuna is still seeking a clear line between knowledge and action. His question matters: spiritual understanding must not become a confusion in which a person justifies inaction with lofty words.