Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 49

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Visnuswami

Sridhara Swami's Commentary

Actions initiated by desire for rewards are debased and abominable. Actions performed in spiritual intelligence by the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the Ultimate Consciousness are far superior. Therefore perform actions in spiritual intelligence and take complete shelter of the Supreme Lord. But those who are impelled and motivated by desire have only misery and wretchedness. For the Brihad-aranyaka Upanisad 3.8.10 states: Whoever departs from this Earth having no knowledge of the Supreme Lord is in a miserable condition.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Madhvacarya

Madhvacarya's Commentary

In the verse Lord Krishna prescribes to endeavour for equanimity revealing that the path is by yoga and by wisdom. Avaram means abominable and durena means to discard; so discarding all fruitive activities one should adhere to spiritual intelligence and remain steadfast in wisdom. One whose only objective is based on fruitive desires wishes to enjoy the rewards of their actions and is degraded.

Now begins the summation.

For all living entities the Supreme Lord is the only refuge. When this realisation finally dawns upon the intellect of a living entity whether they are ignorant, wise or liberated they surrender unto the Supreme Lord without reservation. Those who in delusion consider themselves the same as the Supreme Lord Krishna who is distinctly different due to His inconceivable potencies and transcendental attributes, descend to the hellish worlds of darkness without a doubt. They are doomed to eternal damnation in hellish conditions.

In the Narada Purana it is stated:

Those who see a separation in the Supreme Lord Krishna from His name, form, attributes, pastimes, incarnations and those who deride and seek to diminish the glory of the Supreme Lord Krishna's devotees sink to an existence in the hellish worlds of darkness.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Ramanuja

Ramanuja's Commentary

Actions performed with fruitive motivations are far inferior to actions performed as a matter of duty. The mind of those whose actions are performed as a matter of duty are not disturbed or unbalanced by delusions of rewards gained or lost. The activities performed in spiritual intelligence removes all suffering in the world and leads to liberation from the material existence. Contrarily activities performed for the acquisition of rewards assuredly results in suffering and affliction in the material existence. Phala-hetavah are those who sole motivation is dictated be the prospects of reward. It should be understood that such living entities are krpanah or pitiable due to the fact but acting in this way they are imprisoned in the material existence unable to attain their spiritual nature.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Nimbaditya

Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary

One performing actions with the thought of receiving rewards gets the desired resultant. This appears positive but it is repeatedly denounced. Why? Because actions performed due to selfish motives are inferior to actions performed due to selfless motives. Selfless motives are balanced in equanimity. Equanimity possesses a determinate consciousness. Because of this reality one should seek the shelter of evenness of mind in equanimity. Arjuna had acquired so many riches before naturally following his duty so why should he try to avoid his duty worrying about success or failure. Those motivated to perform activities craving only to get a reward for their actions are inferior and wretched.