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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized
2.482.50

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.49

Work without attachment; steady intelligence

दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय ।

बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥ ४९ ॥

dūreṇa hy avaraṁ karma

buddhi-yogād dhanañ-jaya

buddhau śaraṇam anviccha

kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ

Translation

O Dhanañjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by devotional service, and in that consciousness surrender unto the Lord. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Work for Kṛṣṇa’s Satisfaction

  1. 1Through devotional service, avoid abominable activities and surrender to the Lord. Those seeking to enjoy their work’s fruits are misers.
  2. 2We are eternal servants of the Lord. Work outside Kṛṣṇa consciousness keeps us bound to birth and death.
  3. 3Use all your energy to satisfy Kṛṣṇa through loving service. This makes life successful.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 2, Contents of the Gītā Summarized: work without attachment; steady intelligence.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Act dutifully without attachment to fruits.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.49 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 2 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomesBG 2.48Work without attachment; steady intelligenceBG 3.21Leadership by example

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 2.49 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.