2.47 — Care for the action, release the claim

Sanskrit · Teaching film · Everyday practice

Speaker: Krishna, addressing Arjuna.

The shloka

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥ ४७ ॥

Brief meaning

Arjuna’s responsibility concerns action, without a claim over its fruits. Krishna cautions both against acting only for reward and against attachment to inaction.

In the conversation

The familiar teaching holds two directions together: release possessiveness toward results, and do not become attached to avoiding action. Evenness is not indifference to quality. Arjuna is asked to act, with disciplined attention, while letting go of the demand that outcomes must obey his wishes.

Everyday reflection

Think of preparing for an important examination. You can organise your study, ask questions, practise and rest. You cannot dictate every question or guarantee a particular result. After the exam, look honestly at what happened and improve your method where needed. Releasing a claim to the result does not mean abandoning preparation or feedback. It means that your next worthwhile action need not wait for certainty. What part of today’s work is yours to do carefully?

Consider today: Choose the next responsible action, then learn from its outcome.