dūreṇa hy avaraṁ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya buddhau śaraṇam anviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ
"Action with selfish desire is far inferior to action with equanimity, O Arjuna. Seek refuge in wisdom. Those who work only for reward are miserable."
What This Means:
Work done for selfish gain is low-quality compared to work done with wisdom and equanimity. Take shelter in this understanding. People who only work for rewards are actually pitiable—they're slaves to outcomes, never at peace.
Going Deeper:
The word 'kripanah' (miserable/pitiable) describes those who work only for results. They might seem successful, but they're constantly anxious about outcomes, never satisfied with what they have, always chasing the next reward. This is a poverty of spirit despite possible material wealth.
How To Apply This:
Watch people who are obsessed with rewards—they're never satisfied. The promotion leads to wanting the next promotion. The bonus leads to wanting a bigger bonus. There's no peace in this cycle. Shift your orientation: do excellent work for its own sake. The satisfaction of meaningful work well done is more valuable than any external reward.
Key Sanskrit Terms: