|| 2.41 ||
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन। बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम्।।
vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca buddhayo ’vyavasāyinām
Word by Word
vyavasāya-ātmikā (resolute) — buddhiḥ (intelligence) — ekā (only one) — iha (in this world) — kuru-nandana (O beloved child of the Kurus) — bahu-śākhāḥ (having many branches) — hi (certainly) — anantāḥ (unlimited) — ca (and) — buddhayaḥ (intelligence) — avyavasāyinām (of those who are not resolute)
Translation
Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.
Meaning
Kṛṣṇa distinguishes between the focused and the scattered mind. He says that those on the spiritual path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. They have a single-pointed determination to serve the Supreme.
In contrast, the intelligence of the irresolute is many-branched and unlimited. People without a clear spiritual goal are pulled in a thousand directions by their various desires, whims, and social pressures. They are constantly distracted by new ideas and temporary rewards.
Kṛṣṇa urges Arjuna to have a focused intellect. By having one clear objective—satisfying the Divine through his duty—his life becomes simple and powerful. A scattered mind is a weak mind, but a resolute mind can conquer any obstacle on the path to liberation.