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He who, having cast aside the ordinances of the scriptures, acts under the impulse of desire, attains not perfection, nor happiness nor the Supreme Goal.

One who casts aside the injunctions of scripture and acts on the impulse of desire attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the highest goal.

Krishna now introduces the role of scripture (śāstra). Whoever sets aside its guidance and acts only on desire gains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the highest goal. The verse links the demonic nature with acting on mere impulse, and it implies that personal wants are not a reliable guide to what is right. It opens a question that Arjuna will raise at the start of the next chapter, about people who act with faith but without following scripture.