[ BHAGAVAD GITA · 2.47 · spoken by Krishna ]
The most famous 32 syllables ever spoken about work.
Your right is to action alone, never to its fruits. Let not the fruit of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.
SANSKRIT
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥२-४७॥
KRISHNA’S LINE
“Act — because action is yours. Release the result — because it never was. Do not work for the fruit. Do not flee into inaction. This is the whole secret: full effort, open hands.”
TOPICS
RELATED VERSES
- 1.38 · ArjunIf you can see the sin and they can't — should you stop them, or join them?
- 1.43 · ArjunHe quoted scripture to justify giving up. Can the same book justify both action and inaction?
- 2.48 · KrishnaSame in victory. Same in defeat. That is the definition.
- 2.49 · KrishnaKrishna's harshest word — for those who work only for reward.
- 2.50 · KrishnaThe Gita's second definition: yoga is excellence in action.
- 2.43 · KrishnaNot ignorant. Just aimed too low.