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Chapter 3 Verses 3.1–2

Arjuna’s Confusion – ‘Renunciation or Action?’

Arjuna asked Kṛṣṇa, “If You think that buddhi is better than karma, why do you want me to fight?”

A summary chart on the flow of Chapter Three 3.1–43
  1. 3.1-2 Arjuna's confusion – 'Renunciation or Action?'
  2. 3.3-16 Renunciation (jñāna-yoga) is difficult; prescribed action with detachment (niṣkāma-karma-yoga) is better for Arjuna; go from karma-kāṇḍa to karma-yoga.
  3. 3.17-35 Even if qualified for renunciation, Arjuna should do niṣkāma-karma-yoga to set the right example.
  4. 3.36-43 Lust is a formidable enemy; conquer it by deliberate spiritual intelligence.

The last step leads back to the first.