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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 49 (2.49)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 49 (2.49)

दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय । बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः | | २-४९ | |

dūreṇa hyavaraṁ karma buddhiyogāddhanañjaya buddhau śharaṇamanvichchha kṛipaṇāḥ phalahetavaḥ

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • उएन (Durena) — कर्म(action is far inferior)
  • हि (hi) — कर्म(action is far inferior)
  • अवर (avaram) — कर्म(action is far inferior)
  • कर्म (karma) — कर्म(action is far inferior)
  • उइ-ओग (buddhi-yogat) — बुद्धि(to yoga of wisdom)
  • धनञ्जय (Dhananjaya) — हे धनञ्जय अर्जुन(addresses Arjuna)
Line 2:
  • उधउ (buddhau) — उधउ(seek refuge in understanding)
  • शरणम् (sharanam) — शरण(seek refuge in understanding)
  • अइह (anvichchha) — अइह(seek refuge in understanding)
  • इपन (kripanah) — इपन(pitiable are those motivated only by results)
  • फल-एतव (phala-hetavah) — फल-एतव(pitiable are those motivated only by results)

English: Action done with want for results is far inferior to action guided by wisdom; those driven by results are pitiable.

💡 Commentary Note

Working solely for the fruits of action leads to anxiety and mental bondage. Performing duty with a balanced, wise mind (Buddhi Yoga) is far superior and leads to freedom.

Learnings from Shloka 49:
  • Focus on the action:: Direct your energy toward the work itself rather than worrying about the outcome.
  • Rise above anxiety:: Those who are constantly anxious about results lose the joy of work and create their own suffering.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 2.49 with their Hindi and English meanings.

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