2.49 Take refuge in understanding Krishna speaks
दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय
बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः
dūreṇa hy-avaraṁ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya
buddhau śharaṇam anvichchha kṛipaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ
Action for the sake of its fruit is far inferior, Arjuna, to action guided by understanding. Take refuge in understanding. Those who work only for the fruit are wretched.
Explanation
Take refuge in understanding.
Action for the fruit is far inferior to action guided by buddhi. Those who work only for the fruit are wretched.
The word is strong — kṛpaṇāḥ, pitiable, miserly. Not wicked. What is being described is a diminished way of living rather than a punishable one.
Word by word
- dūreṇa
- (discrad) from far away
- hi
- certainly
- avaram
- inferior
- karma
- reward-seeking actions
- buddhi-yogāt
- with the intellect established in Divine knowledge
- dhanañjaya
- Arjun
- buddhau
- divine knowledge and insight
- śharaṇam
- refuge
- anvichchha
- seek
- kṛipaṇāḥ
- miserly
- phala-hetavaḥ
- those seeking fruits of their work
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