Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 Verse 12
भगवद् गीता अध्याय 12 श्लोक 12

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते।
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम्।।12.12।।



English Translation - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
12.12. For, knowledge is superior to practice; because of knowledge, meditation becomes pre-eminent; from meditation issues the renunciation of fruits of actions; and to renunciation, peace remains next.


English Translation of Commentary  - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
12.12 Sreyah etc.   Knowledge in the form of entering into  [the Lord] is superior to practice;  for practice bears that result.  Due to the entering into the Lord, the meditation i.e.,  getting  absorbed  in the Bhagavat,  becomes pre-eminent i.e., attains superiority,  because of the achievement of what is desired.  When meditation i.e.,  getting absorbed in the Bhagavat is accomplished, then it is possible to renounce  fruits of actions.  Otherwise how can there be a renunciation in what is unknown ?  When renunciation of fruits of actions is achieved, there arises an uninterrupted peace.  Therefore, being the root of all  [these], the knowledge aone, in the form of fixing the mind in  the Lord is important.


Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 12.12Shreyo hi jnaanamabhyaasaat jnaanaaddhyaanam vishishyate;
Dhyaanaat karmaphalatyaagas tyaagaacchaantir anantaram.


Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 12.12śhreyaḥ—better; hi—for; jñānam—knowledge; abhyāsāt—than (mechanical) practice; jñānāt—than knowledge; dhyānam—meditation; viśhiṣhyate—better; dhyānāt—than meditation; karma-phala-tyāgaḥ—renunciation of the fruits of actions; tyāgāt—renunciation; śhāntiḥ—peace; anantaram—immediately