"Karma Yoga," a fundamental idea prominently featured in the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata - one of India's epic literary works, and widely acknowledged in Sanskrit literature, promotes the principle of "action without attachment to outcomes."
The word "Karma" translates to "action" or "deed," and "Yoga" signifies discipline or practice. Together, "Karma Yoga" is essentially the discipline of selfless action.
The Bhagavad Gita introduces Karma Yoga in the dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Krishna, his charioteer and divine mentor. Arjuna is overwhelmed with moral conflict on the brink of a great war - The Mahabharata - when he recognizes relatives, mentors, and friends on the opposing side. In this moment, Krishna counsels Arjuna on his duties as a warrior and as a prince - which include the concept of Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action.
Karma Yoga teaches that one must do their duty without any expectation for rewards or fear of negative consequences. It encourages dedicated and passionate effort in all endeavors, while concurrently maintaining detachment from the results - whether they lead to success or failure. The essence of doing selfless, well-intended actions without craving recognition or rewards is the crux of Karma Yoga.
This theme is repeated in several passages within the Bhagavad Gita, underscoring the philosophy's fundamental importance in the epic. This path of action is seen as one of the routes to spiritual realization and inner peace, suggesting a way to live one's life with purpose and integrity while avoiding the popular pitfalls of ego and materialism.
Overall, Karma Yoga, as suggested by the Bhagavad Gita and echoed in Sanskrit literature, presents a philosophical approach to life, aimed at attaining spiritual enlightenment through selfless acts and an unattached perspective on life's outcomes.