Chapter II · Śloka 49
Śrī Kṛṣṇa uvāca
दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय |
बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ||
बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ||
dūreṇa hy avaraṃ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya |
buddhau śaraṇam anviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ ||
buddhau śaraṇam anviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ ||
Action performed with attachment is far inferior to action performed with the yoga of the intellect, O Dhananjaya. Seek refuge in the intellect; those who work for the fruits of action are miserable.
Karma done for reward keeps the doer in bondage; karma done from a purified intellect aligned with the Self is of a categorically different order. Krishna here places buddhi-yoga — equanimous, discriminating intelligence — as the governing principle of all action.