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Bhagavad Gita 2.49

Chapter 2, Verse 49

Part of 2: Sānkhya Yogसांख्ययोग

दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय। बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः॥

Transliteration

dūreṇa hy-avaraṁ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya buddhau śharaṇam anvichchha kṛipaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ

Meaning

Far lower than the Yoga of wisdom is action, O Arjuna. Seek thou refuge in wisdom; wretched are those whose motive is the fruit.

Word-by-word meaning
dūreṇa(discrad) from far awayhicertainlyavaraminferiorkarmareward-seeking actionsbuddhi-yogātwith the intellect established in Divine knowledgedhanañjayaArjunbuddhaudivine knowledge and insightśharaṇamrefugeanvichchhaseekkṛipaṇāḥmiserlyphala-hetavaḥthose seeking fruits of their work
Commentary

Action done with evenness of mind is Yoga of wisdom. The yogi who is established in the Yoga of widdom is not affected by success or failure. He does not seek fruits of his actions. He has poised reason. His reason is rooted in the Self. Action performed by one who expects fruits for his actions, is far inferior to the Yoga of wisdom wherein the seeker does not seek fruits because the former leads to bondage and is the cause of birth and death. (Cf. VIII.18).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 49?
Far lower than the Yoga of wisdom is action, O Arjuna. Seek thou refuge in wisdom; wretched are those whose motive is the fruit.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 49 of Chapter 2 (Sānkhya Yog — Transcendental Knowledge) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.