BG 2.47
You have a right to perform your duty, but you are not entitled to the fruit of your actions. Do not let results be your motivation, and avoid attachment to inaction.
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि
-
karmaṇy-evādhikāras — only right to prescribed duties
karmaṇi—in prescribed duties; eva—only; adhikāraḥ—right-
karmaṇy — prescribed duties
-
evādhikāras — only right
-
-
te — your
-
mā — not
-
phaleṣhu — in the fruits
The word phalam, meaning "fruit", is commonly used to refer to the fruit of one's actions. -
kadāchana — at any time
-
mā — not
-
karma-phala-hetur — cause as a result of action
-
karma — action, activity
-
phala — result, fruit
-
hetur — cause
-
-
bhūr — be
-
mā — not
-
te — your
-
saṅgo — attachment
saṅgaḥ—attachment -
’stvakarmaṇi — must be in inaction
-
astu — must be
-
akarmaṇi — in inaction
-
You have a right to perform your duty, but you are not entitled to the fruit of your actions. Do not let results be your motivation, and avoid attachment to inaction. Be steadfast in performing your duties, abandoning all attachment to success and failure - such equanimity is called Yoga. Stay far away from inferior actions which seek reward, and seek to establish the intellect in the refuge of divine wisdom. Miserly are those whose only motive is the fruit of their actions.
Similar verses
-
Therefore, without attachment, perform the work that is your duty, for one who does their duty without attachment attains perfection.
- Verse 3.19
-
But these actions should be performed with detachment and without thought of reward.
- Verse 18.6
-
This world is held in the bondage of actions that were not performed for the sake of sacrifice. Therefore, Arjuna, free yourself from attachment and perform work for this purpose alone.
- Verse 3.9
-
An action is pure when it is performed without attachment, free from desire or aversion, by one who does not seek the result of performing it.
- Verse 18.23
-
It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. One who does the duty ordained by their own nature incurs no sin.
- Verse 18.47