Chapter 5: Karma Sannyāsa Yoga – Yoga of Inner Renunciation: Verse 1
अर्जुन उवाच।
सन्न्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि ।
यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् ॥
arjuna uvāca
sannyāsaṃ karmaṇāṃ kṛṣṇa punar-yogaṃ ca śaṃsasi
yacchreya etayor-ekaṃ tan-me brūhi suniścitam – 5.1
Arjuna said: You are extolling, O Krishna, both renunciation of actions and strict adherence to activity. Tell me decisively which of the two bestows supreme felicity (śreyas).
Chapter 5: Karma Sannyāsa Yoga – Yoga of Inner Renunciation - Verse 1
Ma Gurupriya
Now Arjuna raises a pertinent question, after hearing about yajna, sacrifice, which Krishna equates with renunciation. Without renunciation, Arjuna feels spiritual pursuit cannot be meaningful and effective. But Krishna concluded the fourth chapter asking Arjuna to adopt yoga, in which the mind has to remain uniform (sama) with respect to favourable and unfavourable results. while doing all activities amidst pairs of opposites.
Renunciation signifies relinquishment. Are not yoga and renunciation different? And which is best suited to shower felicity, the supreme goal of life? Earlier (in chapter three) the doubt was karma versus wisdom. Now it is renunciation versus yoga.
