Shloka 7
कर्मयोग–ज्ञानयज्ञ–अवतारोपदेश
Karma-Yoga, Jñāna-Yajña, and Avatāra Instruction
महाभारत-- शरणागत अर्जुन कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभाव: पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेता: | यच्छेय: स्यानिश्ितं ब्रूहि तन््मे शिष्यस्ते5हं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ।।
arjuna uvāca | kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvāṁ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ | yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṁ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te ’haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam ||
Arjuna disse: “Minha natureza está dominada pela falha do desânimo, e minha mente está confusa quanto ao que o dharma exige. Por isso te pergunto: diz-me com decisão o que será para mim o bem supremo. Sou teu discípulo; instrui-me, pois me refugiei em ti.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse marks a decisive ethical turning point: Arjuna admits that his judgment is clouded and seeks not what is merely expedient, but what is truly śreyas (the highest good). By declaring himself Krishna’s śiṣya and prapanna (one who has taken refuge), he establishes the teacher–disciple relationship that authorizes spiritual instruction and frames the Gita as guidance for resolving moral confusion through right understanding of dharma.
On the battlefield, Arjuna is shaken by grief and moral doubt about fighting his own kin. Recognizing that his weakness and confusion prevent clear discernment, he turns to Krishna and asks for a definite directive. This surrender shifts the dialogue from friendly counsel to formal instruction, setting the stage for Krishna’s teaching on duty, self-mastery, and the nature of right action.