Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 47

English Translation

You have a 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, and never be attached to inaction.

Detailed Commentary

**Explanation** **'Karmaṇyevādhikāraste'** – Your right is only in performing your duty-bound actions (Karma). In this, you are free, because human existence is a Karma-yoni (a realm of action). No other life-form besides humans can initiate new Karma. Animals, birds, and inert beings like trees cannot perform new Karma. Devas (celestial beings) have the power to perform new Karma, but they are meant only to experience the fruits of their past good Karma. They can provide resources for humans to perform Karma according to the Lord's command, but they themselves cannot initiate new Karma. Beings in hell also experience the fruits of their Karma and cannot perform new Karma. The right to initiate new Karma rests solely with humans. The Lord has given this life so that a human can attain salvation by performing new Karma in the form of service. The singular form in the word **'Karmaṇi'** explains that a human should focus on one Karma at a time. For instance, Arjuna, a Kshatriya, at the time of war, can only perform the duty of war, not other duties. The profound point is that in the human body, there is the fruit of past Karma and new Purushartha (self-effort). In other life-forms, there is only the experience of the fruit of past Karma. This is why the injunctions 'do this' or 'do not do this' do not apply to them. Their actions are also the experience of the fruits of destiny. The human body is received for performing new Purushartha. This means a human acts with freedom, but is dependent on the fruit. By making proper use of circumstances, one can work for salvation. It is particularly important to understand that whatever circumstances arise in human life according to Prārabdha (destiny), one may consider them as happiness or sorrow. But in reality, being happy or sad due to circumstances is not the fruit of Karma, but the fruit of ignorance. Because the experience of happiness and sorrow arises due to identification (Tādātmya). Therefore, by making proper use of circumstances, they become a means for salvation. In happy circumstances, one should serve others; in sorrowful ones, one should renounce the desire for enjoyment. One should not be afraid of sorrowful circumstances, but rather think that sins were committed earlier out of a desire for enjoyment, and those very sins are now appearing as sorrowful circumstances. This is the atonement for sins. We are being purified. And this also serves as a warning that if we now commit sins for enjoyment, similar sorrows will come in the future. Therefore, every action should be for the benefit of all beings. **'Mā phaleṣu kadācana'** – You have no right over the fruits. Perform your duty without desiring the fruit, otherwise, there will be bondage. Desire for fruit is connected to the sense of doership (Kartṛtva), which, when eradicated, eliminates doership, and action happens without bondage. Do not get caught in the cycle of Karma-phala (fruits of action). Therefore, act by abandoning the desire for fruit. To be Nishkāma (desireless) in actions, one also needs Viveka (discrimination) and a spirit of service, because both of these assist in the correct practice of Karma Yoga. **'Mā Karmaphalaheturbhūḥ'** means do not be the cause of the fruit either. If someone benefits from a good deed, do not associate it with yourself. Act without any craving and do not be the cause of the fruit. **'Mā te saṅgo'stvakarmaṇi'** – There should be no attachment to inaction either, otherwise, there will be laziness and heedlessness (Pramāda). One will get caught in the cycle of inertness. Therefore, there should be no desire for worldly or spiritual gain from not acting. One should remain detached from changeable things; only then can true liberation be attained. You have the right to perform Karma, not over its fruit. Renounce the desire for fruit completely and perform your duty; this is the principle of balance.