In Bhagavad Gita 2.49, Krishna says action done with desire is far inferior to the yoga of wisdom, urges Arjuna to take refuge in wisdom, and calls those who work for results pitiable.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म
बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय
बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ
कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥ २-४९ ॥
dūreṇa hyavaraṃ karma
buddhiyogāddhanañjaya
buddhau śaraṇamanviccha
kṛpaṇāḥ phalahetavaḥ
English transliteration doorena hyavaram karma
buddhiyogaaddhananjaya
buddhau sharanamanvichchha
kripanaah phalahetavah ॥ 2.49 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Action driven by desire is far inferior to the yoga of wisdom, O Dhananjaya. Seek refuge in wisdom. Pitiable are those who are motivated by the fruits of action.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दूरेण dūreṇa | by far |
| हि hi | indeed |
| अवरम् avaram | inferior |
| कर्म karma | action |
| बुद्धियोगात् buddhiyogāt | than the yoga of wisdom buddhi (wisdom, intellect) + yogāt (than the yoga) |
| धनञ्जय dhanañjaya | O Dhanañjaya |
| बुद्धौ buddhau | in wisdom |
| शरणम् śaraṇam | refuge |
| अन्विच्छ anviccha | seek |
| कृपणाः kṛpaṇāḥ | pitiable |
| फलहेतवः phalahetavaḥ | those motivated by results phala (fruit) + hetavaḥ (motivated) |
Word-wise Chanting
- dū–re–ṇa hya–va–raṃ kar–ma 8 syllables doo-re-na hya-va-ram kar-ma
- bud–dhi–yo–gād–dha–nañ–ja–ya | 8 syllables bud-dhi-yo-gaad-dha-nan-ja-ya
- bud–dhau śa–ra–ṇa–man–vic–cha 8 syllables bud-dhau sha-ra-na-man-vich-chha
- kṛ–pa–ṇāḥ pha–la–he–ta–vaḥ || 2-49 8 syllables kri-pa-naah pha-la-he-ta-vah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 2 Verse 49
Context
Krishna contrasts buddhi-yoga, the yoga of wisdom, with action driven by desire for results.
Meaning
Krishna compares two ways of acting. One is driven by desire for results; the other is guided by buddhi, clear understanding. The first is far inferior. Those who act only for results are kṛpaṇa, pitiable or miserly, because they make their happiness depend on outcomes they cannot control.
The word kṛpaṇa echoes Arjuna’s own confession in 2.7, where he described his state as kārpaṇya, smallness of spirit. Krishna is gently showing him the root of that smallness: attachment to results. The cure is to take refuge in wisdom, to let a clear understanding of what is right guide action, rather than the hope of reward.
In Practice
Before you begin a task today, ask “what is the right thing to do here?” before you ask “what will I get from it?”
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.