Sure, here’s the punctuated text:

“BG Ch3 – Karma Yoga

BG Ch 3 summary

3.1-3.10: Karma Yoga is better than Jnana Yoga.

3.10-3.16: If you are not qualified even for Karma Yoga, then practice Karma Kanda.

3.17-3.24: If you are qualified for Jnana Yoga, still practice Karma Yoga to set an example.

3.25-3.29: Difference between Karma Yoga and Karma Kanda.

3.30-3.35: How Karma Yoga elevates.

3.36-3.43: Overcome lust, the main obstacle on the path of Karma Yoga.

The flow of this chapter is not linear; it is spiral (it moves circularly and then it moves forward).

The conclusion of the chapter is Arjuna should practice Karma Yoga.

But how does the chapter flow towards that conclusion?

There is progression.

Basically, in Arjuna’s mind, the question is: Should I fight or not fight? Should I renounce the world? Go to the forest and practice Jnana Yoga? Or stay in the world and practice Karma Yoga? So Krishna tells Arjuna that for you, Karma Yoga is better than Jnana Yoga.

In the yoga ladder, the lower one is 1. Karma Kanda 2. Karma Yoga 3. Jnana Yoga. So if Arjuna is having the question, “What if I am not qualified for Karma Yoga?” Answer: If you are not qualified for Karma Yoga, then do Karma Kanda.

Karma Kanda also involves the performance of duties, and by duties, you will become gradually purified.

Now, what if Arjuna says, “I am qualified for Jnana Yoga?” Answer: Still, to set an example for others, you practice Karma Yoga.

Then another question from Arjuna would come: Generally, people practice Jnana Yoga for liberation, so if I practice Karma Yoga, will I get liberated or will I be bound?

Answer: OK, understand the difference between Karma Yoga and Karma Kanda. Karma Kanda keeps one in material existence, but Karma Yoga does not keep one in material existence. So when we practice Karma Yoga, we do become liberated.

So Krishna first talks about the difference between Karma Kanda and Karma Yoga, and then He talks about how Karma Yoga elevates.

Then the last point is: One wants to do one’s duty, but one will be dragged away, so what is it that causes entanglement? That was Arjuna’s first question. We all become entangled, so how we can avoid that?Answer: In the last section, Kama, lust, that causes entanglement, and how one becomes free from Kama. So this way the flow is spiral.

This way it leads to the conclusion that Arjuna should fight.

End of the second chapter, Krishna talked about peace which confuses Arjuna, so let us look at his question first.

BG 3.1

arjuna uvāca

jyāyasī cet karmaṇas te

matā buddhir janārdana

tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ

niyojayasi keśava

Word for word:

arjunaḥ uvāca — Arjuna said; jyāyasī — better; cet — if; karmaṇaḥ — than fruitive action; te — by You; matā — is considered; buddhiḥ — intelligence; janārdana — O Kṛṣṇa; tat — therefore; kim — why; karmaṇi — in action; ghore — ghastly; mām — me; niyojayasi — You are engaging; keśava — O Kṛṣṇa.

Translation:

Arjuna said: O Janārdana, O Keśava, why do You want to engage me in this ghastly warfare if You think that intelligence is better than fruitive work?

jyāyasī cet karmaṇas te

matā buddhir janārdana,

So if You think that better than Karmana is buddhi, then

tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ

Then why are you engaging me in Ghora Karma

matā buddhir janārdana

So if You think knowledge is better than action, then why are you engaging me in this ghastly action? Ghastly action is war.”