श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते ।ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ॥
śreyo hi jñānam abhyāsāj jñānād dhyānaṃ viśiṣyate |dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgas tyāgāc chāntir anantaram ||
- श्रेयः · śreyaḥ
- better, more excellent
- ज्ञानम् · jñānam
- understanding
- अभ्यासात् · abhyāsāt
- than mechanical practice
- ध्यानम् · dhyānam
- meditation
- विशिष्यते · viśiṣyate
- is distinguished, excels
- कर्मफलत्यागः · karma-phala-tyāgaḥ
- relinquishing the fruit of action
- शान्तिः · śāntiḥ
- peace
- अनन्तरम् · anantaram
- immediately after
“Understanding is better than mechanical practice; meditation excels understanding; relinquishing the fruit of action surpasses meditation — from relinquishment peace follows at once.”
— Original plain-language translation
Krishna ranks the inner ascent, prizing each deeper letting-go. The sequence ends where Arjuna's need is greatest: immediate peace — not a distant heaven but a present settling of the heart.
— Reader's notes (original)