Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 42

यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः । वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः ॥

yām imāṁ puṣpitāṁ vācaṁ pravadanty avipaścitaḥ | veda-vāda-ratāḥ pārtha nānyad astīti vādinaḥ ||

Those who lack wisdom speak flowery words, O Pritha's Son! devoted to the Vedas' ritual parts, who claim 'there is nothing else but this!'

After teaching about resolute wisdom, Krishna critiques its opposite: those who speak elaborately about the Vedas but miss their essence. 'Flowery speech' (puṣpitā vāk) means impressive religious talk focused on rituals and rewards. These 'unwise' (avipaścitaḥ) practitioners perform ceremonies mechanically, believing material gains are the ultimate goal. They claim 'there is nothing else'—no higher purpose beyond worldly success. They miss what the scriptures actually teach: liberation through self-knowledge. Krishna isn't condemning the Vedas but those who reduce profound teachings to a transactional system—perform this ritual, get that reward—rather than a path to wisdom.