व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन ।बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम् ॥
vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kurunandana |bahuśākhā hy anantāś ca buddhayo 'vyavasāyinām ||
- व्यवसायात्मिका · vyavasāyātmikā
- resolute, single-pointed
- बुद्धिः · buddhiḥ
- understanding, resolve
- एका · ekā
- one, single
- इह · iha
- here, on this path
- कुरुनन्दन · kurunandana
- O delight of the Kurus (Arjuna)
- बहुशाखाः · bahuśākhāḥ
- many-branched
- हि · hi
- indeed
- अनन्ताः · anantāḥ
- endless
- च · ca
- and
- बुद्धयः · buddhayaḥ
- notions, resolves
- अव्यवसायिनाम् · avyavasāyinām
- of the irresolute, undecided
“The resolute understanding is single, O delight of the Kurus — while the notions of the irresolute are many-branched and endless.”
— Original plain-language translation
One pointedness versus infinite distraction: the Gita's diagnosis of the scattered mind. Arjuna's own dilemma — pulled toward a dozen duties at once — is the living exhibit. Yoga begins where the branches are pruned to one.
— Reader's notes (original)