Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 2.44

Shloka 2.44

“Those attached to pleasure and power, absorbed in rituals, lack the resolute intellect for liberation.”
Key Teaching: Attachment to rituals prevents the resolute intellect needed for liberation.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Karma Yoga.
Description:
Krishna teaches that those attached to pleasure and power through rituals lack the resolute intellect needed for liberation. This verse concludes 2.42–43, urging Arjuna to adopt Karma Yoga over ritualism (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he clarifies duty, and Karma Yoga, as he emphasizes resolute action, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s ritual concerns (1.42–44) reflect attachment to outcomes. Krishna’s teaching contrasts with Duryodhana’s ambition (1.3–11), urging Arjuna to focus on selfless Kshatriya duty for liberation, not ritualistic rewards. This aligns his action with spiritual clarity.

Philosophically, this verse addresses the human distraction by material desires, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on selfless action (2.47). Arjuna’s concerns complicate his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance to cultivate a resolute intellect. The theme of Karma Yoga underscores focused, detached action.

Sanjaya’s narration frames Krishna’s teaching objectively, emphasizing its spiritual weight. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s distractions, where focus leads to liberation. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers for performing duty with a resolute mind, free from attachment to material rewards.