Driven by desire, they strive after heaven and contrive to win powers and delights, but their intricate ritual language bears only the fruit of action in rebirth.

(42-44) The essence of the soul is will—[but the souls] of men who cling to pleasure and to power, their minds seduced by flowery words, are not attuned to enstasy. Such men give vent to flowery words, lacking discernment, delighting in the Veda’s lore, saying there is naught else. Desire is their essence, paradise their goal—their words preach [re-]birth as the fruit of works and expatiate about the niceties of ritual by which pleasure and power can be achieved.

2.42-2.43 O son of Pṛthā, those undiscerning people who utter this flowery talk -- which promises birth as a result of rites and duties, and is full of various special rites meant for the attainment of enjoyment and affluence --, they remain engrossed in the utterances of the Vedas and declare that nothing else exists; their minds are full of desires and they have heaven as the goal.

2.42 - 2.44 O! Pārtha, the unwise, who rejoice in the letter of the Vedas, say, 'There is nothing else.' They are full only of worldly desires and they hanker for heaven. They speak flowery words which offer rebirth as the fruit of work. They look upon the Vedas as consisting entirely of varied rites for the attainment of pleasure and power. Those who cling so to pleasure and power are attracted by that speech (offering heavenly rewards) and are unable to develop the resolute will of a concentrated mind.

2.43 Full of desires, having heaven as their goal, (they utter speech which is directed to ends) leading to new births as the result of their works, and prescribe various methods abounding in specific actions, for the attainment of pleasure and power.