Gautam Buddha gave up all worldly pleasures and attachments, and lived a lonely austere life as a monk, returning to civilization only after he had achieved self-realization, to teach the world about nirvana.
While Krishna acknowledges that the path of sanyasa can lead to the goal, he advices Arjuna to take the other path - the path of selfless service. Perhaps he realizes that at that time, Arjuna will be more receptive to action, being practical as he is, instead of living everything in the search of self-realization.
Krisha offers the example of King Janaka, a revered king, who ruled well and did not shirk his responsibilities, yet he was detached of any selfish thoughts, and did his work with a sense of duty towards the world. He was renouned as a wise sage, who attained enlightenment not by renouncing the world, but by working in it and contributing to its welfare.
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