|| 2.41 ||

व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन। बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम्।।

vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca buddhayo ’vyavasāyinām

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)

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.

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.