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This is a verse of the Bhagavad Gita that anyone can apply to their life right away. Even in ancient times, this aspect of human nature was abundantly clear - performing actions out of attachment to the outcome produces suboptimal results. The greatest kings were the ones who genuinely cared about their duty, and not to the riches and pleasures that came with their power. Even the greatest artisans and laborers must have been the ones who performed their duty for the sake of that purpose. Krishna is providing an insight that transcends generations: "miserly indeed are those who only work for the paycheck".

Attachment to the outcome also creates negative emotions when the vicissitudes of life do not align to one's expectations. Around the time these ancient masters of meditation were coming to this universal realization, great thinkers in ancient Greece and ancient Rome of the Stoic school of philosophy were realizing it as well. The great Chinese thinker Lao Tzu, father of Taoism, had realized it as well. A prescription to act out of duty without attachment to the result is a feature of major world religions like Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism.

The parable of the archer

There is a famous Stoic parable of an archer who is renown for his unmatched precision. When asked the secret behind his incredible talent, he simply replies "it's not just about aiming at the target, but also about letting go of the outcome". When asked to elaborate, he says that "when I release the arrow, I trust in my skills and the laws of nature. I let go of any worries about hitting or missing the target. By detaching myself from the outcome, I become one with the act of archery itself, allowing my actions to flow effortlessly". In this parable, the lesson is that true mastery is not an end result, but a journey which one takes with a mind free from attachment.

Wu wei

In Confucianism and Daoism, the concept of wu wei (無為) emerged, which literally means "without action". Through poetry and philosophy, the concept was used to refer to ideal forms of government, ideal states of the mind, and the mindset that one has as a master of a discipline. In the philosophy of the Tao Te Ching, the importance of achieving wu wei is similar to the importance of understanding Karma Yoga, and the Tao is equivalent to the Hindu notion of Purusha - the natural course of action for all objects and beings. Philosopher Alan Watts understood wu wei as "the art of getting out of one's own way".