Bhagavad Gita BG 2.49
Chapter 2, Verse 49 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय । बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥ ४९ ॥
dūreṇa hy avaraṃ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya buddhau śaraṇam anviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ
Meaning
Action is far inferior to the yoga of wisdom, O Dhananjaya. Seek refuge in wisdom; those who act for the sake of the fruits are wretched.
Understanding
Buddhi Yoga (yoga of intelligence/action with equanimity) is far superior to ordinary action. 'Buddhau śaraṇam anviccha' — seek refuge in this intelligence/wisdom. Those who act for fruits — 'phala-hetavaḥ' — are called 'kṛpaṇāḥ' — misers. A miser is one who hoards without using what they have. Similarly, one who has access to the gift of human life but uses it only for temporary rewards is spiritually miserly — wasting the rare opportunity for liberation.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| दूरेण | dūreṇa | far away / by a great distance |
| अवरम् कर्म | avaram karma | inferior action / action of lower quality |
| बुद्धियोगात् | buddhi-yogāt | from buddhi yoga / from the yoga of intelligence |
| शरणम् अन्विच्छ | śaraṇam anviccha | seek refuge / take shelter |
| कृपणाः | kṛpaṇāḥ | misers / wretched ones |
| फलहेतवः | phala-hetavaḥ | those who act for fruits / those who desire results |
| हि | hi | for / indeed (causal) |
| बुद्धौ | buddhau | in this intelligence / in this yoga |
| धनञ्जय | dhanañjaya | O Dhananjaya (Arjuna) |