Bhagavad Gita 2.41
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 41 of 72
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन। बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम्॥
vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana / bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca buddhayo 'vyavasāyinām
The resolved mind is one. The unresolved mind branches endlessly — and arrives nowhere.
Word by word (4)
- vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ
- — the resolute, single-pointed intelligence · 'Vyavasāya' — determination, resolve. The buddhi (discriminative intelligence) oriented toward svadharma without attachment is unified — one arrow pointing in one direction.
- ekeha kuru-nandana
- — is one here, O joy of the Kurus
- bahu-śākhā hy anantāḥ ca
- — but many-branched and endless are
- buddhayo 'vyavasāyinām
- — the thoughts of the irresolute · 'Avyavasāyin' — one without resolve. The undecided mind proliferates endlessly: what if this, what if that. It never arrives.
'O Kuru's joy, the resolute mind — the mind of firm determination — is one. But the thoughts of the irresolute are many-branched and endless.'
A modern analogy
A compass with a single needle points north. A compass with a hundred needles pointing in a hundred directions is useless. The 'vyavasāyātmikā buddhi' (resolute intelligence) of Karma Yoga is the single needle: it always points toward right action regardless of what the outcomes are. The irresolute mind is the hundred-needle compass — constantly recalculating, never arriving.
Take with you
- 'Vyavasāyātmikā buddhi' — the intelligence of firm resolve. This is the specific quality being cultivated: single-pointed clarity about what is right.
- 'Bahu-śākhā' — many-branched. The undecided mind proliferates endlessly — 'what if this, what if that, what if I had done the other thing.'
- This verse explains Arjuna's earlier state in the opening chapter — weeping, overwhelmed with compassion, unable to act, right up to his collapse: a many-branched mind, unable to resolve, collapsing under its own proliferation.
Public-domain translations (3) compare all →
Here, O Arjuna, there is only one resolve of a firm intelligence; but many-branched and endless are the resolves of the irresolute. [4]
The mind of those who have resolved is one; the minds of those who have not are many-branched and endless. [7]
The mind which is of the nature of a firm determination is single in this world, O Arjuna; but the thoughts of the irresolute are many-branching and endless. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Minds absorbed in pleasure and power cannot settle into the resolute intelligence — they are carried away.
Tell me clearly: what ONE thing leads to the highest good? Your mixed speech confuses me.
Yoga is the disconnection from suffering — practise it with firm resolve and a mind that does not despond.
Therefore remember Me at all times and fight — mind and intellect fixed on Me, you will come to Me without doubt.
Mind-in-Me, devotee, worshiper, bow to Me — you will come to Me; truly I promise, you are dear to Me.
Destroyed is my delusion, memory restored by Your grace — I stand firm, free of doubt, and will do Your word.
Verse 41 of 72 · back to Chapter 2