The works of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya

Sanatsujātīyam

p. 282

p. 282

नन्वेवं ज्ञाननिष्ठता यदि ज्ञानस्यैव पुरुषार्थत्वं भवेत्; अपि तु कर्मण एवेत्याशङ्क्याह—

In plain words

But wait — if abiding in knowledge is what you describe, then knowledge alone would be the goal of a human life; surely it is action alone that is. Anticipating this objection, the text answers—

Close to the Sanskrit

But surely — if steadfastness in knowledge is thus, then to knowledge alone would belong the status of being the human goal; rather, it belongs to action alone: having anticipated this doubt, he says—