Chapter 2, Verse 47
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 47 ||
karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana |
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 2.47 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 2.47 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
This pivotal verse outlines the 'Science of Work' (Karma Yoga) through four distinct injunctions: 1) Do your duty without anxiety for the outcome. 2) Understand that you are not the sole enjoyer of the results; they belong to the Divine or the larger cosmic order. 3) Relinquish the ego of doership (Kartritvabhiman), acknowledging that your power to act comes from a higher source. 4) Avoid the pitfall of 'Akarmani' (inaction), as running away from responsibility is not spiritual liberation. By focusing on the process rather than the outcome (NATO - Not Attached To Outcome), one achieves peak performance and mental equanimity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 2.47?
You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.