1 · Learn3 of 6 · 5 min
Study a Verse
Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.41
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरूनन्दन ।
बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम् ॥ ४१ ॥
vyavasāyātmikā buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca
buddhayo ’vyavasāyinām
Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Those on this path have one firm aim; those who are unsure have intelligence that branches in many directions.
Firm purpose rests on strong faith that Kṛṣṇa consciousness leads to life's highest perfection. Serving Kṛṣṇa gives the highest service to everyone.
Practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness under a genuine spiritual master's guidance, accepting his instructions as your mission in life.
Further characteristics of Buddhi-yoga
Resolute determination in Buddhi-yoga / Krishna consciousness
Intelligence of those who are irresolute is many branched
Definitions of Faith
Strong faith that Krishna consciousness will elevate one to highest perfection of life – This is called as “Vyavasayatmika Intelligence” – Ref. CC: “Sraddha Sabde...”(study purport)
Faith means ‘unflinching trust in something sublime’
Elaborations on ‘Firm faith’ — It implies that one engaged in Krishna consciousness has:
No obligations in material world
No longer endeavors for fruitive activities
Krishna conscious activities on absolute plane – no longer subject to dualities of good/bad
In conclusion firm faith implies:
“Renunciation of material concept of life” – As highest perfection of Krishna consciousness
How to achieve such renunciation – Automatically by progressive Krishna consciousness
Foundation of “Resolute Determination”
Knowledge of soul – Whole process ultimately depends on – perfect knowledge of soul beyond conception of body, not only theoretically but practically, with no chance of sense gratification manifested in fruitive activities
Knowledge of Vasudeva as the cause of all causes and as all in all (Ref. Bg. 7.19 – “bahunam janamanam...”)
Analogy: Watering the root satisfies all the parts
Best practice of service to Krishna — Service to Guru (Supporting Ref. “yasya prasada…”) because:
He knows the nature of student
Can guide how to act in Krishna consciousness
One should act firmly and take instructions as mission in life
Texts 2.41 & 2.42
Here in Text 2.42, for the first time, Krishna mentions the Vedas to
Arjuna. He tells Arjuna to give up his karma-kanda mentality, or the idea of using the Vedas for many sacrifices aimed at pleasing various demigods to gain temporary fruits and benedictions such as sons, health, power, wealth, longevity, a bountiful harvest or heavenly pleasures. It should be noted that in the previous section, Krishna encouraged Arjuna to fight by appealing to the same mentality in Arjuna that He now condemns. Although previously encouraging Arjuna to fight to obtain heaven, Krishna now speaks on a higher level, the level of buddhi-yoga
FIGHT! But without any reaction – Niskarma-karma-yoga
One works (karma) with knowledge (jnana)
Thus detached from the fruit of his work
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Spiritual intelligence
Resolute intelligence has a single purpose.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 2.41 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?
Do one task today purely because it is right.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.