Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 2, Verse 47
Karma Yoga
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi
Meaning
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are never entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to inaction.
तुम्हारा अधिकार केवल कर्म करने में है, उसके फलों में कभी नहीं। इसलिए तुम कर्मों के फल का हेतु मत बनो, और न ही अकर्म (कर्म न करने) में तुम्हारी आसक्ति हो।
Explanation
This is the most quoted verse of the Bhagavad Gita, and the philosophical heart of Nishkama Karma Yoga — the path of selfless action. Krishna tells Arjuna that his responsibility begins and ends with the sincere, disciplined performance of his duty (dharma); the outcome depends on countless factors beyond his control. Fixating on results — success, failure, praise, or blame — creates anxiety and clouds judgment, while genuine detachment from outcomes allows one to act with full effort and a clear mind. Crucially, Krishna clarifies that this is not a call to give up action altogether (akarmani) — inaction is not the answer; skillful, non-attached action is.
Life Lesson
Focus on doing your work well and honestly; release your grip on the outcome. Anxiety about results — a promotion, an exam score, how others will judge you — often does more damage to performance than the work itself. This verse teaches that consistent effort without obsessive attachment to results is both more peaceful and, paradoxically, more effective.
Why this verse matters
Verse 2.47 is often cited outside religious contexts too — in leadership, sports psychology, and performance coaching — as an early articulation of “process over outcome” thinking. It does not ask for indifference to results, but for right-sized attachment: full commitment to the action, and release of the compulsive need to control what happens next.
Related verses
This verse sets up the teaching continued in Chapter 2, Verse 20 on the eternal nature of the soul, and the broader discussion of Sthitaprajna (steady wisdom) later in the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 2.47 mean?
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are never entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to inaction.
What is the practical lesson?
Focus on doing your work well and honestly; release your grip on the outcome. Anxiety about results — a promotion, an exam score, how others will judge you — often does more damage to performance than the work itself. This verse teaches that consistent effort without obsessive attachment to results is both more peaceful and, paradoxically, more effective.