Arjuna starts the fifth chapter by highlighting a lingering confusion in his mind. Kṛṣṇa had praised ‘Sannyāsa’ (giving up activities) and then recommended ‘Yoga’ (performing activities in devotion). To Arjuna, these two seem like polar opposites—how can one quit and work at the same time? He asks for a definitive answer: “Which of the two is more beneficial?” He is still looking for a simple choice between being a monk and being a king. Arjuna’s mind is stuck in the ‘either-or’ trap, failing to see that Kṛṣṇa is teaching a synthesis of the two. This question is vital for all spiritual seekers. Most people think that to be ‘spiritual’ one must quit their job and family. Kṛṣṇa is about to clarify that true renunciation is not about leaving the world, but about changing one’s heart while remaining in the world. He will explain that the highest monk is the one who serves the Divine in the middle of everyday life.