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Chapter 2, Verse 42

यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः। वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः।।2.42।।

yāmimāṃ puṣpitāṃ vācaṃ pravadantyavipaścitaḥ. vedavādaratāḥ pārtha nānyadastīti vādinaḥ.।2.42.।

Word by word

याम् इमाम्
which, this (flowery speech) - accusative feminine singular
पुष्पिताम्
flowery, blossomed (i.e., ornate/flowery speech)
वाचम्
speech, words
प्रवदन्ति
they speak forth, proclaim
अविपश्चितः
the unwise, those lacking discernment
वेदवादरताः
delighting in the letter of the Vedas (those attached to flowery Vedic pronouncements)
पार्थ
O son of Pritha (Arjuna)
न अन्यत्
nothing else
अस्ति
exists, there is
इति
thus (quotation marker)
वादिनः
those who declare/assert

Commentary

No conviction of a resolute nature is formed in the mind of those who are attached to pleasures and power, and whose minds are drawn away by that flowery speech which the unwise -- enamoured of Vedic utterances, declaring there is nothing else, full of desire, having svarga as their goal -- utter, (a speech) which promises birth as the reward of actions and which abounds in specific acts for the attainment of pleasure and power, O son of Pritha. They are unwise; they are wanting in discrimination. They are enamoured of the Vedic passages composed of many a praise (to gods) and unfolding various ends and means. They say that there is nothing else besides words which are the means of attaining svarga, cattle, and other such objects of desire. They are full of desires and are ever in pursuit of them. Their chief and final goal is svarga. They talk words, fine like a flowery tree, very pleasant to hear. Their speech holds out birth as the reward of works and treats of specific acts wherewith to secure svarga, cattle, progeny and the like, and wherewith to attain pleasures and power. Thus talking, these foolish people wander in the samsara. They regard pleasure and power as necessary; they are in love with them and have identified themselves with them. Their intelligence and wisdom are blinded (as it were) by this speech abounding in specific acts. In their mind -- samadhi, the buddhi, the antah-karana, in which are gathered together all objects of enjoyment for the purusha, the individual soul -- no conviction of a resolute nature, no wisdom concerning Sankhya or Yoga will arise.

Source: Alladi Mahadeva Sastri, The Bhagavad-Gita with the Commentary of Sri Shankaracharya (1897), public domain (verses 42-44 discussed as one combined teaching in the source)

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Tap each meaning in order to match its Sanskrit word.

Sanskrit (in order)

  1. याम् इमाम्
  2. पुष्पिताम्
  3. वाचम्
  4. प्रवदन्ति
  5. अविपश्चितः
  6. वेदवादरताः
  7. पार्थ
  8. न अन्यत्
  9. अस्ति
  10. इति
  11. वादिनः

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