दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय | बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ||२-४९||
dūreṇa hyavaraṃ karma buddhiyogāddhanañjaya . buddhau śaraṇamanviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phalahetavaḥ ||2-49||
Chapter 2 · Verse 49
Sankhya Yoga
सांख्ययोग
In plain words
You must realize that working solely for rewards is far inferior to acting with a balanced, wise mind. Those who crave results are bound to suffer. Instead, seek refuge in jnana, the spiritual wisdom that keeps you steady, and perform your actions as a selfless offering, free from the anxiety of what you will gain.
Translation
2.49 Action with attachment is far inferior, O Arjuna, to action done with evenness of mind. Seek refuge in evenness of mind. Miserable are they who act with a motive for results.
Meaning
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).
Word by word
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.