दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय ।बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥
dūreṇa hy avaraṃ karma buddhiyogād dhanañjaya |buddhau śaraṇam anviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phalahetavaḥ ||
- दूरेण · dūreṇa
- by far, far (inferior)
- हि · hi
- indeed
- अवरम् · avaram
- inferior, base
- कर्म · karma
- action
- बुद्धियोगात् · buddhiyogāt
- than the yoga of understanding
- धनञ्जय · dhanañjaya
- O Dhananjaya (Arjuna)
- बुद्धौ · buddhau
- in understanding
- शरणम् · śaraṇam
- refuge
- अन्विच्छ · anviccha
- seek
- कृपणाः · kṛpaṇāḥ
- wretched, pitiable
- फलहेतवः · phalahetavaḥ
- those moved by fruits, reward-seekers
“Action is far inferior to the yoga of understanding, O Dhananjaya. Seek refuge in understanding — wretched are those moved by fruits.”
— Original plain-language translation
The sequel to 2.47: mere action, however strenuous, is 'far inferior' without the inward yoga. 'Wretched' (kṛpaṇa) is strong medicine — the fruit-chaser is portrayed not as evil but as small, trading the infinite for wages.
— Reader's notes (original)