Bhagavad Gita 2.47

Sanskrit

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥2.47॥

Transliteration

karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadācana | mā karmaphalaheturbhūrmā te saṅgo'stvakarmaṇi ‖2.47‖

Meaning

“Your right is to action alone, never to its fruits. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.”

Key learning

You control your effort, your intentions, and how well you do your work. You do not control the results, because outcomes depend on timing, luck, and other people's choices. Worrying about what you can't control just drains you, while focusing on what you can control brings calm. Also, don't quit just because results aren't guaranteed. Do your work fully, then let go of the scoreboard.

How to apply this today

Prepare hard for the interview, then let the hiring decision be theirs. Give your kids love and good values without demanding they become exactly who you pictured. Help people without keeping a tally of what they owe you. After anything important, try to honestly say: I did my best, and whatever comes, comes. Do your part well, then release the outcome.

Theme: The Yoga of Knowledge

This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga , read all verses in this chapter.

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