श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते । ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ॥
śreyo hi jñānamabhyāsājjñānāddḥyānaṃ viśiṣyate | dhyānātkarmaphalatyāgastyāgācchāntirānantvaram ||
Translation
Knowledge is indeed better than practice; meditation is better than knowledge; renunciation of fruit of action is better than meditation — from renunciation, peace immediately follows.
Interpretation
A hierarchy of practices in a single verse: abhyasa (practice) is good, but jnanam (knowledge of the truth) is better than blind practice. Jnana is good, but dhyanam (meditation, direct inner contemplation) is superior to theoretical knowledge. Dhyana is excellent, but karma-phala-tyaga (renunciation of the fruits of action) exceeds all — because it transforms every moment of life into practice, not just formal meditation times. And the fruit of tyaga (renunciation of results): shantir anantaram — 'peace immediately follows.' Immediately, directly, without any gap.