Chapter 2, Verse 49 (Bhagavad Gita 2.49)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय। बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः
Transliteration
dūreṇa hy-avaraṁ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya buddhau śharaṇam anvichchha kṛipaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ
Word Meanings
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
Translation
O Dhananjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by the practice of devotional service, and in such consciousness surrender unto the Lord. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse distinguishes between action performed with egoic desire and action performed in a state of awakened wisdom (Buddhi-yoga). When we act merely for results, we become slaves to our anxieties and the volatile nature of external outcomes, which leads to a life of psychological poverty. True liberation begins when we anchor our intelligence in the Supreme, allowing our actions to become a form of selfless offering. This shift in perspective transforms mundane work into a sacred duty, freeing the mind from the bondage of past regrets and future fears. By prioritizing the quality of our consciousness over the quantity of our gains, we transcend the state of a 'miser' and step into the abundance of eternal being.