Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 49

दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय । बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥

dūreṇa hy avaraṁ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya | buddhau śaraṇam anviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ ||

Action is far inferior to the yoga of wisdom, O Arjuna. Seek refuge in wisdom. Pitiable are those who are motivated by results.

Krishna contrasts two ways of acting: 'avaram karma'—inferior action driven by desperate result-seeking—versus 'buddhi-yoga'—action rooted in wisdom and clarity. When you're 'phala-hetavaḥ' (motivated purely by fruits), you become 'kṛpaṇāḥ'—pitiable, enslaved to outcomes, never at peace. Every moment is anxious grasping. Krishna's teaching: 'buddhau śaraṇam anviccha'—take refuge in wisdom, not in frantic outcome-chasing. This transforms how you act: with intelligence and equanimity rather than desperation.