karmaṇy evādhikāras te - You have the right only to perform your duty. Focus on what you can control: your effort and attitude.
mā phaleṣu kadācana - Never claim ownership over results. Outcomes depend on countless factors beyond your control.
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūḥ - Don't be motivated by results. Work for the sake of duty, not for what you'll gain.
mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi - Don't use detachment as an excuse for laziness. Perform your duties with full engagement.
Bhagavad Gita 2.47 is universally recognized as the essence of Karma Yoga and the most quoted verse of the Gita. It provides a revolutionary formula for both worldly success and spiritual liberation. The verse addresses the fundamental human problem of anxiety about results and offers a practical solution applicable to every aspect of life.
In a world obsessed with outcomes, metrics, and rewards, Krishna's teaching seems counterintuitive. Yet it offers profound psychological and spiritual wisdom. When we're attached to results, we experience anxiety before action, stress during action, and disappointment if results don't match expectations. By focusing solely on the quality of our work, we achieve both excellence and peace.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't have goals. We set intentions and work toward them—but we don't let our inner peace depend on achieving them. We give our best and accept whatever comes with equanimity. This is the secret of the sthitaprajna (one of steady wisdom) described in the following verses.
This verse follows Krishna's teaching in BG 2.45 to transcend the three gunas and in BG 2.46 about how limited Vedic rituals are for one who knows the Self. Now Krishna provides the practical method: perform your duty without attachment to results. The following verses (2.48-51) further elaborate on this yoga of equanimity.
The verse addresses multiple levels of understanding:
Krishna isn't saying results don't matter or that we shouldn't try to succeed. He's teaching that:
The fourth instruction—"don't be attached to inaction"—is crucial. Some might misuse this teaching to justify laziness: "If results don't matter, why work?" Krishna anticipates this escape and closes the door. Non-attachment doesn't mean non-action. We must perform our duties with full engagement while remaining internally free from the bondage of results.
Study with full dedication and prepare thoroughly. On exam day, don't obsess about grades. Focus on understanding concepts deeply rather than memorizing for marks. Your job is to learn; results will follow.
Give your best work regardless of whether you'll be recognized or promoted. Focus on excellence in your craft. Don't let office politics or comparison with colleagues disturb your inner peace.
Build your venture with passion and diligence. Accept that many factors affecting success are beyond your control. Keep improving your product and serving customers without obsessing over competitors or valuations.
Raise your children with love, guidance, and wisdom. Accept that they are individuals with their own paths. Your duty is to give your best; their choices and outcomes are ultimately theirs.
Train with complete dedication and compete with full intensity. Whether you win or lose, maintain equanimity. Focus on your performance, not the scoreboard. Excellence is the goal; trophies are byproducts.
Practice meditation, study scriptures, serve others—without expecting spiritual experiences or enlightenment on your timeline. Do the practice; grace comes when the time is right.
This verse teaches that you have the right to perform your duties but should not be attached to results. Focus on giving your best effort without being motivated by or anxious about outcomes. This is the foundation of Karma Yoga—the path of selfless action.
BG 2.47 encapsulates the entire philosophy of Karma Yoga in four lines. It provides a universally applicable formula for success and inner peace. CEOs, students, athletes, and spiritual seekers all find practical wisdom here.
No. Set goals, plan strategically, work diligently. The teaching is about psychological detachment—not letting your happiness depend on achieving specific outcomes. Work fully, then accept results with equanimity.
Compete with full intensity but focus on your performance, not others' or the outcome. Do your best preparation, then release anxiety about results. Paradoxically, this often leads to better performance because you're not weighed down by fear of failure.
Detachment means caring deeply about your work while remaining unattached to outcomes. Indifference means not caring. A detached person gives 100% effort; an indifferent person gives minimal effort. Krishna explicitly warns against attachment to inaction.
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