Under the BanyanOld stories, illustrated and annotated

Bhagavad Gita 2.44

Chapter 2, verse 44

Meaning

For those who cling to pleasure and power, whose minds have been carried away by that talk, the resolute understanding never settles into deep, steady focus.

The Sanskrit

भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां तयापहृतचेतसाम् ।
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः समाधौ न विधीयते ॥ ४४ ॥

bhogaiśvaryaprasaktānāṃ tayāpahṛtacetasām
vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ samādhau na vidhīyate

Say it

bho-gaish-vur-yuh-pruh-suk-taa-naam tuh-yaa-puh-hri-tuh-chay-tuh-saam
vyuh-vuh-saa-yaat-mi-kaa bud-dhi-hi suh-maa-dhou nuh vi-dhee-yuh-tay

Word by word

bhoga-aiśvarya-prasaktānām
of those clinging to pleasure and power
tayā apahṛta-cetasām
whose minds are carried off by it (that speech)
vyavasāya-ātmikā buddhiḥ
the resolute understanding
samādhau
in deep focus, settled stillness
na vidhīyate
does not take root
Read it in context: verses 2.41–44One resolve, not a hundred branchesWith the story so far, commentary, and today's lesson: Decide once, then stop re-deciding

Another translation and audio recitation: verse 2.44 on holy-bhagavad-gita.org.