FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 2.49

दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय । बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥ ४९ ॥
dūreṇa hy avaraṁ karma
[doorena hy avaram karma]
buddhi-yogād dhanañ-jaya
[buddhi-yogaad dhanan-jaya]
buddhau śaraṇam anviccha
[buddhau sharanam anvichcha]
kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ
[kripanaah phala-hetavah]
Word-for-word
dūreṇa — discard it at a long distance hi — certainly avaram — abominable karma — activity buddhi - yogāt — on the strength of Kṛṣṇa consciousness dhanam - jaya — O conqueror of wealth buddhau — in such consciousness śaraṇam — full surrender anviccha — try for kṛpaṇāḥ — misers phala - hetavaḥ — those desiring fruitive results .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dūreṇa hy avaraṁ karma
dūreṇa
discard it at a long distance
buddhi-yogād dhanañ-jaya
hi
certainly
buddhau śaraṇam anviccha
kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ
avaram
abominable
karma
activity
buddhi - yogāt
on the strength of Kṛṣṇa consciousness
dhanam - jaya
O conqueror of wealth
buddhau
in such consciousness
śaraṇam
full surrender
anviccha
try for
kṛpaṇāḥ
misers
phala - hetavaḥ
those desiring fruitive results .
Important Words
  • dūreṇa — by a great distance
    Instrumental of dūra — far. *By far*. Mere fruitive karma is inferior to buddhi-yoga *by a great distance*. The comparative is not faint — the gap between the two paths is vast.
  • avaram — inferior
    Neuter of avara — lower, inferior. Fruitive action is *avara* compared to buddhi-yoga. The Gītā is not neutral on the question; it ranks.
  • buddhi - yogāt — than buddhi-yoga
    Ablative — *than*. Buddhi-yoga is the yoking of intelligence to the higher purpose. The verse compares it directly with karma alone and finds karma wanting.
  • śaraṇam — shelter
    From √śri — to take refuge. Take *shelter* in buddhi. The metaphor is suddenly devotional — the buddhi rightly used is itself a shelter. Cf. śaraṇāgati in later chapters.
  • kṛpaṇāḥ — misers
    Plural of kṛpaṇa — miser. Used in śāstra (cf. Bṛhad. Ār. Up. 3.8.10) for one who dies without knowing the Self. Those who work for fruits are *misers of the soul* — frugal where they should be lavish.
O Dhanañjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by devotional service, and in that consciousness surrender unto the Lord. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Action driven by hunger for results is far inferior to action grounded in clear understanding. Take refuge in such buddhi; the fruit-seekers are kṛpaṇāḥ, miserly of vision — settling for narrow gains when the inner kingdom is available.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
Buddhi-yoga is a key compound — the union of action with informed, equanimous intelligence. The contrast 'mere action' (kevalaṁ karma) vs. 'action steered by buddhi' is central to the rest of the chapter. Kṛpaṇa here echoes Arjuna's own self-diagnosis as kārpaṇya-doṣa-upahata-svabhāvaḥ (2.7) — Kṛṣṇa shows that the fruit-seeker shares this same constriction.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
हे धनञ्जय! बुद्धि-योगात् (केवलम्) कर्म दूरेण हि अवरम् । बुद्धौ शरणम् अन्विच्छ । फल-हेतवः कृपणाः ।
he dhanañjaya! buddhi-yogāt (kevalam) karma dūreṇa hi avaram | buddhau śaraṇam anviccha | phala-hetavaḥ kṛpaṇāḥ |
O Dhanañjaya, mere action is by far inferior to action united with wisdom. Seek refuge in (wise) intelligence. Those motivated by results are wretched.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
दूरेण हि अवरम् कर्म बुद्धि-योगात् धनञ्जय । बुद्धौ शरणम् अन्विच्छ कृपणाः फल-हेतवः ॥
dūreṇa hi avaram karma buddhi-yogāt dhanañjaya | buddhau śaraṇam anviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
दूरेण dūreṇa दूर (n.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular), 'by a distance' by far
हि hi ind. (indeclinable), emphatic indeed
अवरम् avaram अवर (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n., 'inferior' inferior
कर्म karma कर्मन् (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) action
बुद्धि-योगात् buddhi-yogāt बुद्धि (f.) + योग (m.) abl.sg. (ablative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) than the yoga of intelligence
धनञ्जय dhanañjaya धनञ्जय (m.) voc.sg. (vocative singular) O Dhanañjaya
बुद्धौ buddhau बुद्धि (f.) loc.sg. (locative singular) in (wise) intelligence
शरणम् śaraṇam शरण (n.) acc.sg. (accusative singular), 'refuge' refuge
अन्विच्छ anviccha अनु+√इष् impv. 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice), 'seek' seek
कृपणाः kṛpaṇāḥ कृपण (adj.) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m., 'wretched, miserly' wretched, mean-spirited
फल-हेतवः phala-hetavaḥ फल (n.) + हेतु (m.) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m., bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound), 'whose motive is the fruit' those motivated by results
Purport

One who has actually come to understand one’s constitutional position as an eternal servitor of the Lord gives up all engagements save working in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As already explained, buddhi-yoga means transcendental loving service to the Lord. Such devotional service is the right course of action for the living entity. Only misers desire to enjoy the fruit of their own work just to be further entangled in material bondage. Except for work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all activities are abominable because they continually bind the worker to the cycle of birth and death. One should therefore never desire to be the cause of work. Everything should be done in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. Misers do not know how to utilize the assets of riches which they acquire by good fortune or by hard labor. One should spend all energies working in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and that will make one’s life successful. Like misers, unfortunate persons do not employ their human energy in the service of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
49. O conqueror of wealth, actions with desire are far inferior to niṣkāma-karma-yoga. Surrender to this buddhi-yoga or niṣkāma-karma-yoga. Those who seek results from their work are wretched (and receive bondage).
Commentary

Kṛṣṇa here criticizes karma done with material desires (sakāma-karma). The actions done with material desire (avaraṁ karma) are far inferior to niṣkāma-karma-yoga offered to the Supreme Lord (buddhi-yogāt). Take shelter of niṣkāma-karma-yoga (buddhau). In this verse buddhi-yoga refers to niṣkāma-karma-yoga rather than bhakti-yoga.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
49. O conqueror of wealth, actions with desire are far inferior to niṣkāma karma yoga. Surrender to this buddhi yogam, niṣkāma karma yoga. Those who seek results from their work are wretched (and receive bondage).
Commentary

This verse speaks of the inferior nature of kāmya karma. Kāmya karma which causes problems such as birth and death is far inferior (dūreṇa avaram) to niṣkāma karma (buddhi yogād), which brings about the understanding (buddhi) of the true nature of ātmā. Because of this (hi), take shelter of understanding the ātmā (buddhau śaraṇam anviccha)—perform niṣkāma karma yoga. Those who desire results (pḥala hetavaḥ), who perform the inferior actions, are unfortunate and miserable (kṛpaṇaḥ), being under the control of the flow of birth and death caused by their kāmya karmas. You should not be such a kṛpaṇa. The misers, greedy for some inexperienced morsel of happiness from their hard earned wealth, cannot give up their wealth, and are thus cheated of the great happiness of giving. Those persons who perform kāmya karmas, greedy for insignificant results from their great toil in performing actions, are cheated of the great happiness of realizing the ātmā. This is the indication of the word kṛpaṇa or miser.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

What are the fruits of one who is trying to enjoy the fruits of his work actually? It is birth and death. That what one gets by being miser.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Reject all abominable actions and act in buddhi-yoga – Arjuna is recommended to keep all

abominable activities (fruitive actions) far distant by devotional service and surrender unto the Lord

Focus of Learning

(a) Krishna Consciousness is “Real Yoga” because it involves:

Following of Krishna’s dictations which is “Real Yoga”
Giving up one’s own sense of proprietorship
Right way to act in Krishna consciousness – Working as ‘servant of the servant’ of Krishna
Gain and victory are Krishna’s concern

(b) Fighting in ‘Krishna consciousness’ as recommended yoga practice for Arjuna

Ref. Vishnu Purana – Aim of Varnashrama is to satisfy Vishnu or Krishna
For Arjuna fighting as a religious duty under Krishna’s dictation is the correct observance of Varnashrama – thus it is “Real Yoga”
Conclusion – One can achieve this platform of yoga and detachment by following the Lord’s dictations in devotional service

(a) 3 Kinds of work are defined

Prescribed – Those enjoined in scriptures according to one’s acquired modes
Capricious – Actions without sanction of authorities
Inaction – Not performing one’s prescribed duty

(b) 3 Kinds of prescribed duties

Routine –
Action in the mode of goodness –If performed as an obligation to the scriptures without attachment for the results
Inauspicious work – Work with attachment to results becomes the cause of bondage
Emergency
Desired

(c) Conclusion – Only auspicious path is “disinterested/obligatory” duties which leads one to the path

of liberation. On the other hand:

Any attachment positive or negative is the cause of bondage
Inaction or capricious work – both are sinful
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
2.49 Then again, O Dhananjaya, as against action performed with eanimity of mind for adoring God, karma, action undertaken by one longing for the results; is, hi, indeed; durena, ite, by far; avaram, inferior, very remote; buddhi-yogat, from the yoga of wisdom, from actions undertaken with eanimity of mind, because it (the former) is the cause of birth, death, etc. Since this is so, therefore, saranam anviccha, take resort to, seek shelter; buddhau, under wisdom, which relates to Yoga, or to the Conviction about Reality that arises from its (the former's) maturity and which is the cause of (achieving) fearlessness. The meaning is that you should resort to the knowledge of the supreme Goal, because those who under take inferior actions, phala-hetavah, who thirst for rewards, who are impelled by results; are krpanah, pitiable, according to the Sruti, 'He, O Gargi, who departs from this world without knowing this Immutable, is pitiable' (Br. 3.8.10). [See note under 2.7.-Tr.]
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
2.49 All other kinds of action are far inferior to those done with evenness of mind, which consists in the renunciation of the main result and with eanimity towards success or failure in respect of the secondary results. Between the two kinds of actions, the one with eanimity and the other with attachment, the former associated with eanimity removes all the sufferings of Samsara and leads to release which is the highest object of human existence. The latter type of actions, which is pursued with an eye on results, leads one to Samsara whose character is endless suffering. Thus when an act is being done, take refuge in Buddhi (evenness of mind). Refuge means abode. Live in that Buddhi, is the meaning. 'Miserable are they who act with a motive for results': it means, 'Those who act with attachment to the results, etc., are miserable, as they will continue in Samsara.'
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
2.49 Durena etc. Due to the contact (one has) with determining faculty [one's] inferior action i.e., the action that bears bad fruits and is empty, remains far away [from him]. Therefore seek i.e., pray for a refuge in the determining faculty of that nature, on account of which that determining faculty is gained.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
2.49 Far lower than the Yoga of wisdon is action, O Arjuna. Seek thou refuge in wisdom; wretched are they whose motive is the fruit.
Commentary

2.49 दूरेण by far? हि indeed? अवरम् inferior? कर्म action or work? बुद्धियोगात् than the Yoga of wisdom? धनञ्जय O Dhananjaya? बुद्धौ in wisdom? शरणम् refuge? अन्विच्छ seek? कृपणाः wretched? फलहेतवः seekers after fruits.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).

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
2.49 O Dhananjaya, indeed, action is ite inferior to the yoga of wisdom. Take resort to wisdom. Those who thirst for rewards are pitiable.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
2.49 Physical action is far inferior to an intellect concentrated on the Divine. Have recourse then to Pure Intelligence. It is only the petty-minded who work for reward.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 2.50 BG 3.9 BG 18.66 SB 1.5.17 SB 3.32.34 SB 11.18.45 CC Ādi 13.93 CC Madhya 8.83 CC Madhya 22.93 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.5BRS 1.2.34
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Action driven by attachment is far inferior to action performed with the equipoise of yoga; misers cling to fruits, the wise to clarity.
Practical Applications
  • Notice the inner difference between fruit-driven and yoga-grounded action — they feel different.
  • Refuse to be a kṛpaṇa (miser) about results; be generous in releasing them to Krishna.
  • Pray that your work be transformed from karma to karma-yoga.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I being a miser with the results of my actions?
  • What does the difference between attached and detached action look like for me concretely?
Analogy

A man who works to count the pennies on his own paycheck has reduced himself to an accountant of small change. The phala-hetu — one who lives to harvest fruits — is, in Kṛṣṇa's word, kṛpaṇa: miser. Buddhi-yoga lifts the worker out of the accounting and into the work itself.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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