Now after this Krishna says a very categorical verse by which earlier recommendation to do Karma by doing Karma Kanda is put down

BG 2.49

durena hy avaram karma

buddhi-yogad dhananjaya

buddhau saranam anviccha

kripanah phala–hetavah

SYNONYMS

durena — discard it at a long distance; hi — certainly; avaram — abominable; karma — activity; buddhi–yogat — on the strength of Krishna consciousness; dhananjaya — O conqueror of wealth; buddhau — in such consciousness; saranam — full surrender; anviccha — try for; kripanah — misers; phala–hetavah — those desiring fruitive results.

TRANSLATION

O Dhananjaya, 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.

Durena hy avaram karma, keep it far away. ‘Avaram karma’ refers to inauspicious or abominable work, as described by Srila Prabhupada. Krishna instructs, ‘O Dhananjaya, put aside avaram karma and practice Buddhi Yoga.’ This is mentioned by Krishna in 2.39, ‘Buddhir yoge tv imāṁ śṛṇu.’ So, practice Buddhi Yoga and seek refuge in your wisdom, ‘buddhau saranam anviccha.’ Those who work solely for the sake of gaining material fruits are considered ‘kripanah’—short-sighted, narrow-minded, and confined by limited aspirations.

Krishna advises to distance oneself from inauspicious work with intelligence and not to seek the fruits of such work. What does this actually mean? Previously, Krishna discussed Karma Kanda, stating that one can attain heaven by losing or dying in battle and gain the earth by winning. Therefore, one should fight. In verse 2.38, Krishna emphasizes the need to fight with equanimity, unaffected by thoughts of profit, loss, victory, or defeat. Now, Krishna clarifies the distinction between these two aspects, which operate on different levels.

Here, Krishna explains that what He previously mentioned is related to the calculations of Karma Kanda. It is a material-level understanding of action and its consequences—avaram karma. Those who work solely for material rewards, seeking temporary gains, are referred to as ‘phala-hetavah’ and ‘kripana.’ They lack farsightedness and fail to recognize the immense potential of human life to achieve eternal results. By neglecting the pursuit of the eternal and focusing on the temporary, they remain caught in the cycle of birth and death.

To transcend the cycle of birth and death, one should not be entangled in actions that are part of this cycle. Instead, Krishna advises surrendering to wisdom and taking refuge in intelligence, realizing that one is not the body but the eternal soul. Such surrender involves seeking an eternal destination. Thus, ‘durena hy avaram karma’ serves as the verse that leads to the question Arjuna will pose in 3.1 and 3.2: “Why fight if intelligence is better than fruitive work?”

Here, Krishna instructs Arjuna to give up Karma Kanda and practice Karma Yoga through the use of Buddhi—intelligence. ‘Kripanah phala-hetavah’ indicates that individuals should not confine their ambitions to success within the rat race. Merely desiring bigger houses, cars, jobs, or pay packages does not lead to true satisfaction. The craving for material possessions is insatiable, and there is no limit to it. True intelligence lies in choosing infinite longing for the Supreme Lord rather than being captivated by finite material desires. By indulging in material fruits, we condemn ourselves to perpetual dissatisfaction, birth, old age, disease, and death. Instead, we should develop an infinite longing for the Supreme Lord. This longing signifies intelligence, and Krishna advises, ‘buddhau saranam anviccha’—seek refuge in intelligence and surrender to the Supreme Lord.