Verse 2.47
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi
Word-by-Word Meanings
karmaṇi-in action
adhikāraḥ-right/authority
phaleṣu-in the fruits
karma-phala-hetuḥ-motivated by results
saṅgaḥ-attachment
akarmaṇi-in inaction
Translation
Your right is to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not be motivated by the fruits of action, nor let your attachment be to inaction.
Commentary
This is the single most famous verse of the Bhagavad Gita and the cornerstone of Karma Yoga. It contains four instructions: (1) you have the right to perform action, (2) never claim ownership of results, (3) don't let results be your motive, (4) don't be attached to inaction either. This teaching revolutionizes the concept of duty by separating action from its consequences.
Themes
karmayogaduty