अर्जुन
In plain words
Arjuna said: Mighty-armed one, I wish to understand separately the tattva of Sannyāsa and of Tyāga, Hrishikesha, slayer of Keshi.
Word for word
I wish to know the truth of saṃnyāsa, O mighty-armed one, and of tyāga, O Hṛṣīkeśa, separately, O slayer of Keśin.
सन्न्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक् केशिनिषूदन
Other commentaries
The commentators
▸Bhagavadgītābhāṣyam
सर्वस्यैव गीताशास्त्रस्य अर्थः अस्मिन् अध्याये उपसंहृत्य सर्वश्च वेदार्थो वक्तव्यः इत्येवमर्थः अयम् अध्यायः आरभ्यते । सर्वेषु हि अतीतेषु अध्यायेषु उक्तः अर्थः अस्मिन् अध्याये अवगम्यते । अर्जुनस्तु संन्यासत्यागशब्दार्थयोरेव विशेषबुभुत्सुः उवाच —
संन्यासस्य संन्यासशब्दार्थस्य इत्येतत् , हे महाबाहो, तत्त्वं तस्य भावः तत्त्वम् , याथात्म्यमित्येतत् , इच्छामि वेदितुं ज्ञातुम् , त्यागस्य च त्यागशब्दार्थस्येत्येतत् , हृषीकेश, पृथक् इतरेतरविभागतः केशिनिषूदन केशिनामा हयच्छद्मा कश्चित् असुरः तं निषूदितवान् भगवान् वासुदेवः, तेन तन्नाम्ना सम्बोध्यते अर्जुनेन ॥ १ ॥
In plain words
This chapter begins with one purpose: to gather the meaning of the whole Gītā into a single place, and with it to state the entire meaning of the Veda. Everything said across all the chapters now behind us is understood here. But Arjuna wanted just one thing made clear — the difference between what saṃnyāsa means and what tyāga means — and so he said:
'Of renunciation' means: of the true sense of that word, mighty-armed one. 'The truth of it' means its own being — what it actually is, its reality just as it stands. 'I wish to know' means simply that: to understand it. 'And of relinquishment' means the true sense of that word too, Hṛṣīkeśa. 'Separately' means each explained apart from the other. And 'O Keśiniṣūdana' — this recalls how the Blessed Lord Vāsudeva once slew a demon named Keśin, who had taken the disguise of a horse; it is by that very name that Arjuna now addresses him.
Close to the Sanskrit
The meaning of the entire Gītā-teaching having been gathered together in this chapter, and the whole meaning of the Veda being also to be stated — with this as its purpose this chapter is begun. For the meaning stated in all the past chapters is comprehended in this chapter. But Arjuna, desiring to know only the distinction between the meanings of the words saṃnyāsa and tyāga, said —
'Of renunciation' — of the meaning of the word 'renunciation' — this much; O mighty-armed one; 'the truth' — its being, its true nature — that is, 'the reality as it actually is'; 'I wish' — to know, to understand; 'and of relinquishment' — of the meaning of the word 'relinquishment' — this much; O Hṛṣīkeśa; 'separately' — through the division of each from the other; O Keśiniṣūdana — a certain demon named Keśin, disguised as a horse, whom the Blessed Lord Vāsudeva slew; by that, by that name, he is addressed by Arjuna.