Inquiry

Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya, upadekshyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darshinah

Understand this by approaching a teacher with humility, by sincere questioning, and by service. The wise who have directly seen the truth will impart that knowledge to you.

Arjuna uvaca: Sannyasam karmanam krishna punar yogam ca shamsasi, yac chreya etayor ekam tan me bruhi su-nishchitam

Arjuna asks Krishna to clarify definitively which is better — renunciation of action or the performance of action with devotion — since Krishna seems to praise both. This opening question frames the entire chapter's inquiry into true sannyasa versus karma yoga.

Purvabhyasena tenaiva hriyate hy avashopi sah, jijnasur api yogasya shabda-brahmativartate

By that very previous practice, the person is irresistibly drawn forward even without conscious will; even one who merely inquires about yoga transcends the Vedic path of ritual. Past practice creates an irresistible inner pull toward yoga, and even sincere inquiry about yoga is itself a high spiritual attainment.

Arjuna uvaca: Kim tad brahma kim adhyatmam kim karma purushottama, adhibhutam ca kim proktam adhidaivam kim ucyate

Arjuna said: O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? What is the Self (adhyatma)? What is karma? What is called the material manifestation (adhibhuta)? And what is said to be the divine element (adhidaiva)? Arjuna poses seven fundamental questions that frame Chapter 8, seeking clarity on the deepest metaphysical concepts.

Arjuna uvaca: Prakriti purusham chaiva kshetram kshetra-jnam eva cha, etad veditum icchhami jnanam jneyam cha keshava

Arjuna asks Krishna to explain the distinction between Prakriti and Purusha, the field and the knower of the field, and the nature of knowledge and the knowable. This question opens the profound inquiry into the relationship between matter and consciousness.

Arjuna uvaca: Kair lingais trin gunan etan atito bhavati prabho, kim acharah katham chaitams trin gunan ativartate

Arjuna asks: What are the signs of one who has transcended the three gunas? What is their conduct, and how does one go beyond these gunas? Arjuna's question invites a practical description of the liberated person's characteristics and the method of transcendence.

arjuna uvaca: sannyasasya maha-baho tattvamicchhami veditum tyagasya ca hrishikesa prithak keshi-nisudana

Arjuna asks Krishna to explain the difference between sannyasa (renunciation of action) and tyaga (renunciation of the fruits of action). This opening question sets the stage for the final chapter's comprehensive teaching on liberation.