Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 12

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते | ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् ||

śreyo hi jñānam abhyāsāj jñānād dhyānaṁ viśiṣyate dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgas tyāgāc chāntir anantaram

Knowledge is indeed superior to practice; meditation is superior to knowledge; renunciation of fruits of action is superior to meditation; and peace immediately follows renunciation.

Krishna concludes the section on alternatives by explaining the hierarchy of spiritual practices. 'Śreyo hi jñānam abhyāsāt'—knowledge (jñānam) is indeed (hi) superior (śreyaḥ) to practice (abhyāsāt). 'Jñānād dhyānaṁ viśiṣyate'—meditation (dhyānam) is superior (viśiṣyate) to knowledge (jñānāt). 'Dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgas'—renunciation of fruits of action (karma-phala-tyāgaḥ) is superior to meditation (dhyānāt). 'Tyāgāc chāntir anantaram'—peace (śāntiḥ) immediately (anantaram) follows renunciation (tyāgāt). This verse establishes a hierarchy: practice leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to meditation, meditation leads to renunciation, and renunciation leads to peace. However, Krishna has already shown that devotion is the most accessible path. This hierarchy shows the progression, but devotion with faith is the quickest way. Peace is the ultimate goal, and it comes through renunciation—which is most accessible through devotion.