Chapter 2/Verse 2.47
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karmaphalaheturbhūr mā te saṅgo'stvakarmaṇi
karmaactiondetachmentdutyresultsnishkamayogacore

Word Meanings

karmaṇi—in prescribed duties;
eva—only;
adhikāraḥ—right / entitlement;
te—your;
mā—never;
phaleṣu—in the fruits / results;
kadācana—at any time;
mā—never;
karma-phala—the result of the work;
hetuḥ—cause;
bhūḥ—become;
mā—never;
te—your;
saṅgaḥ—attachment;
astu—there should be;
akarmaṇi—in inaction

Translations

Literal

You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

Interpretative

Your only jurisdiction is over your action, never over its outcome. Do not let the anticipation of the result be the motive for your actions, yet do not succumb to inaction.

Modern

Do the work because it needs to be done. Let go of the outcome. Your job is to show up fully — not to control what happens next. But don't use detachment as an excuse for laziness.

Multi-Layer Explanation

Philosophical Depth

This verse establishes Nishkama Karma — action without desire for fruits. The self (Atman) acts through the body but is not the ultimate doer. Ego-identification with results is the source of karmic bondage. Liberation comes when action is offered as a sacrifice (Yajna) without claiming the fruit.

Traditional Commentary

Shankaracharya emphasizes that the Atman is the witness, not the doer. Ramanujacharya highlights dedicating all actions to the Lord. Madhvacharya stresses that God alone is the independent agent; the soul acts in dependence.

Contextual Setting

Krishna speaks these words on the battlefield of Kurukshetra as Arjuna hesitates, paralyzed by anxiety over the outcome of the war and the potential destruction of his family.

Life Application

Before any important action, mentally offer both the effort and the result to the universe. Act fully with 100% intensity, then immediately drop expectations. This is the highest form of professional and personal integrity.