Knowledge is indeed better than blind practice; meditation excels knowledge; surrender of the fruits of action is more esteemed than meditation; on surrender, Peace follows immediately. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12 – Verse 12)
Intellectual knowledge is better than practice without understanding. Meditation is better than intellectual knowledge. Higher than meditation is the abandonment of the fruit of actions, for it causes cessation from samsara, birth and death. So there is hope for all.
From the way in which Bhagavan Sri Krishna has taught different paths for the bhakta in the previous shlokas, it would be possible to conclude that the first-mentioned path is the highest, and so in order till we come to renunciation of the results of actions as the lowest. This would be very discouraging to those who follow one of the paths mentioned after the highest.
Bhagavan Sri Krishna therefore extols the last-mentioned path, for those who follow that path may be considered the weakest by some, and they are therefore most in need of encouragement. But from this we must not conclude that the practice is insincere. In the first place it shows Sri Krishna’s great love and tact. But furthermore, the praise is due because the renunciation of the fruits of action is a requisite factor in every religious path. To the lowest and the highest alike, peace comes only when there is non-attachment to results.
He who practices constant meditation needs it as much as he who chooses this practice of renunciation of the fruits of action as the easiest and best-suited means to Bliss. Every devotee needs it. Therefore Bhagavan extols it so highly.