No Wisdom for the Worldly-Minded
42. yam imeirii puspitam vacam
pravadanty avipascitah
vedavadaratah partha
na 'nyad asti 'ii vadinah
43. kamatmanah svargapara
janmakarmpahlapradam
kriyavisesabahulam
bhogaisvaryagatim prati
(42 -43) The undiscerning who rejoice in the letter of the Veda, who contend that there is nothing else, whose nature is desire and who are intent on heaven, proclaim these flowery words that result in rebirth as the fruit of actions and (lay down) various specialized rites for the attainment of enjoyment and power.
The teacher distinguishes true karma from ritualistic piety. Vedic sacrifices are directed to the acquisition of material rewards but the Gita asks us to renounce all selfish desire and work, making all life a sacrifice, offered with true devotion
Cp. Mundaka Up., I, 2, io. "These fools, who believe that only the performance of sacrificial ntual (istapurtarn) is meritorious and nothing else is meritorious, come back to this mortal world, after having enjoyed happiness in heaven." See also Is Up., 9, 12; Katha, II, 5. The Vedic Aryans were like glorious children in their eager acceptance of life. They represent the youth of humanity whose life was still fresh and sweet, undisturbed by disconcerting dreams. They had also the balanced wisdom of maturity. The author however limits his attention to the karma of the Veda which is not its whole teaching. While the Veda teaches us to work with a desire for recompense whether in a temporary heaven or in a new embodied life, buddhih leads us to release.
