Bhagavad Gita BG 3.3
Chapter 3, Verse 3 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
श्रीभगवानुवाच । लोकेऽस्मिन् द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ । ज्ञानयोगेन साङ्ख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ॥ ३ ॥
śrī bhagavān uvāca loke 'smin dvi-vidhā niṣṭhā purā proktā mayānagha jñāna-yogena sāṃkhyānāṃ karma-yogena yoginām
Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: O sinless one, in this world I have spoken of two paths from the beginning — the path of knowledge (jñāna-yoga) for the reflective sages (Sankhyas) and the path of action (karma-yoga) for the active yogis.
Understanding
Krishna now gives the clear answer Arjuna wanted. He says there are two legitimate paths to liberation: jñāna-yoga for those whose temperament is contemplative and analytical (Sankhyas), and karma-yoga for those whose nature is active. Neither path is universally superior — the right path depends on one's svabhāva (inherent nature). Addressing Arjuna as 'anagha' (sinless one) is significant: Krishna is saying that Arjuna's confusion itself is innocent — it arises not from sin but from genuine discernment. This verse also establishes that these paths are not new — Krishna says 'purā proktā' (declared from the beginning), making them eternal principles.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| द्विविधा | dvi-vidhā | two kinds / of two types |
| निष्ठा | niṣṭhā | devotion / steadfast path / foundation |
| साङ्ख्यानाम् | sāṃkhyānām | of the Sankhyas / of those who follow the path of knowledge |
| अनघ | anagha | sinless one / one without fault |
| पुरा | purā | from the beginning / formerly / since ancient times |
| श्रीभगवान् उवाच | śrī bhagavān uvāca | The Blessed Lord said (speaker attribution) |
| लोके अस्मिन् | loke 'smin | in this world |
| प्रोक्ता | proktā | was declared / was spoken (by Me) |
| मया | mayā | by Me |
| ज्ञानयोगेन | jñāna-yogena | by the yoga of knowledge / through knowledge-path |
| कर्मयोगेन | karma-yogena | by the yoga of action / through action-path |
| योगिनाम् | yoginām | for the yogis / for those who practice yoga |