Karmanye Vadhikaraste: Meaning of the Famous Gita Verse
Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana — the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 2.47 in simple English, and how to apply it in everyday life.
This is perhaps the most quoted verse of the Bhagavad Gita. In a single line, Sri Krishna gives Arjuna the deepest secret of action.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadāchana, mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi
Simple meaning
You have a right only to your action — never to its fruits. So do not act for the sake of results, and do not be attached to inaction either.
What Krishna is teaching
We often get so anxious about the outcome that we cannot even do the work well. The Gita says — give your very best, and let the result unfold in its own time.
- Focus on the effort, not the result.
- Anxiety over results brings stress; doing your duty brings peace.
- Laziness is attachment too — escaping work is not the answer.
A small practice
Before starting any task, pause for a moment and say: "My job is to do this with full sincerity; the rest will follow in time." That is this verse, made alive.
How to live it
Exams, jobs, relationships — this one principle works everywhere. Effort is in your hands; the outcome depends on many things. The moment you loosen your grip on the result, your mind becomes its most steady and powerful.