Verse 3.1

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 3.1:

अर्जुन उवाच–
ज्यायसी चेत् कर्मणस् ते मता बुद्धिर् जनार्दन ।
तत् किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥ १ ॥

arjuna uvāca–
jyāyasī cet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana |
tat kiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava || 1 ||

arjuna uvāca–Arjuna said; jyāyasī–is superior; cet–if; karmaṇaḥ–than fruitive work; te–Your; matā–consideration; buddhiḥ–intelligence (that is directed towards transcendental bhakti); janārdana–O Janārdana;tat–then; kim–why?; karmaṇi–in activity (in the form of fighting); ghore–in this ghastly; mām–me; niyojayasi–are You engaging; keśava–O Keśava.

Arjuna said: O Janārdana, if You consider that intelligence related to bhakti is beyond the modes and thus superior to fruitive work, then why, O Keśava, are You engaging me in this ghastly activity of warfare?

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

This Third Chapter gives a detailed explanation of work (karma) that is offered to Śrī Bhagavān without the expectation of any material return. It also describes the wisdom of a person who is willing to conquer lust, anger and so forth.

Arjuna has understood from the verses in the previous chapter that devotion that is free from the modes of material nature is superior to the path of spiritual advancement through transcendental knowledge (jñāna-yoga) and also to selfless action (niṣkāma-karma-yoga). Now, in the mood of a friend, he reproaches Śrī Bhagavān, who is eager to engage him in his prescribed duty of fighting, with the following words: “If that intelligence which is resolute and free from material inebriety is superior, then why, O Janārdana, are You engaging me in this ghastly warfare?” Jana means ‘to Your own people’ and ārdana means ‘giving pain’, so Janārdana means ‘by Your order You give pain to Your own people’.

Arjuna also addresses Kṛṣṇa as Keśava. “No one can transgress Your order because You are Keśava, the controller of both Brahmā and Mahādeva (Śiva). Ka means ‘Brahmā’, īśa means ‘Mahādeva’ and va means ‘controller’.”

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

In this verse there is a mysterious secret behind Arjuna’s addressing Śrī Kṛṣṇa by the names Keśava and Janārdana. Arjuna inquired, “O Janārdana, first You said that resolute intelligence (vyavasāyātmikā-buddhi), which is beyond the modes and fixed in transcendental bhakti, is superior to prescribed duty (karma). Why, then, are You engaging me in this ghastly and violent warfare? Learned men are right in calling You Janārdana, for by Your order You give pain to Your own people, who are dear to You and dependent on You. Janārdana is a very befitting name for You because You killed the demon Jana, which is but another indication of Your cruel nature. And because You killed the demon named Keśī, Keśava is another appropriate name for You. Moreover, ka means ‘Brahmā’, īśa means ‘Mahādeva’ and va means ‘controller’. Since You control them, You are called Keśava. How, then, can an insignificant person like me transgress Your order? O Prabhu, be merciful to me!”

In Śrī Harivaṃśa, Śrī Rudra says in relation to Śrī Kṛṣṇa and His name Keśava:

ka iti brahmaṇo nāma īśo’haṃ sarva-dehinām
āvāṃ tavāṅga-sambhūtau tasmāt keśava-nāma-bhāk

Ka is Brahmā, and I am Īśa (Śaṅkara), the controller of all living entities. Since both of us were born from Your limbs, You are called Keśava.