02/06/2024
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूः मा ते संगोस्त्वकर्मणि ॥
[श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता द्वितीयोऽध्यायः - 2.47]
You have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty or inaction.
This श्लोक is at the heart of message and philosophy of कर्मयोग disciplined action from श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, often simply referred to as गीता. The गीता is a 700-verse scripture that is part of महाभारत. It is a dialogue between prince अर्जुन and the Supreme God श्रीकृष्ण. The गीता provides insights on three primary paths to मोक्ष or liberation, all of which are interlinked with each other:
भक्तियोग - the path of devotion focusses on completely surrendering to the Divine will and cultivating deep devotion,
ज्ञानयोग - the path of knowledge focuses on understanding the eternal nature of the Self or आत्मन् and the transient nature of the material world, and
कर्मयोग - the path of disciplined action focuses on performing one's duties with dedication and skill but without attachment to the results.
In this श्लोक, श्रीकृष्ण emphasizes that one should focus on one's duty and actions without becoming overly concerned about the results. This does not mean that one should not care about outcomes, but rather that one shouldn't be overly attached to or anxious about them. श्रीकृष्ण advises against seeing oneself as the sole cause of outcomes. It is a reminder to avoid ego and pride in successes and not to get disheartened by failures.
At the same time, the श्लोक cautions against inaction. Just because one is advised not to be attached to outcomes doesn't mean they should avoid action altogether. It's a call to fulfill one's responsibilities and duties. Inaction can arise from fear of failure, overthinking, lack of motivation or moral dilemmas. श्रीकृष्ण advises on निष्काम कर्म or "action without attachment to results." It's about performing one's duties sincerely but without being overly concerned about the outcome.
This ensures that one is active in the world, fulfilling responsibilities, but remains internally detached from the fruits of the actions. By following this philosophy, one can maintain inner peace and equanimity in the face of success or failure. It promotes a balanced and detached approach to life, allowing one to act with clarity and purpose without being swayed by personal desires or emotional reactions.
गीता offers practical advice on how to deal with challenges, dilemmas, and doubts that arise in one's life, making it relevant across ages. It talks about the importance of performing one's duty and the moral challenges associated with it. The गीता delves deep into explaining the difference between the physical body and the eternal soul आत्मन्, and the ultimate purpose of life (मोक्ष or liberation). It emphasizes on seeing the universe as लीला (the play) of the Divine and the interplay between the Divine ब्रह्मन् and the individual soul आत्मन्.
