दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनंजय
बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः
dūreṇa hyavaraṃ karma buddhiyogāddhanaṃjaya
buddhau śaraṇamanviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phalahetavaḥ
TRANSLATION
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.
PURPORT
All other kinds of action are far inferior to those done with evenness of mind, which consists in the renunciation of the main result and with equanimity towards success or failure in respect of the secondary results. Between the two kinds of actions, the one with equanimity and the other with attachment, the former associated with equanimity removes all the sufferings of Samsara and leads to release which is the highest object of human existence. The latter type of actions, which is pursued with an eye on results, leads one to Samsara whose character is endless suffering. Thus when an act is being done, take refuge in Buddhi (evenness of mind). Refuge means abode. Live in that Buddhi, is the meaning. ‘Miserable are they who act with a motive for results’: it means, ‘Those who act with attachment to the results, etc., are miserable, as they will continue in Samsara.’