Discipline of Disinterested Action

Surrendering the fruits of one's actions

- Shri Murarilal Dhanuka

Lord Krishna says in verse forty-seven of chapter two of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, "Your right is only to perform your duty, but never to claim its fruit; do not be the cause of the fruit of action nor let your attachment be for inaction."

As per our sacred scriptures like Vedas, only human beings are eligible to perform new actions; no other bodies as those of animals and birds etc. are free to perform new actions. God has bestowed this on human, the very last of all births, so that by performing new actions in the form of selfless service to others, a person may achieve salvation and be freed from the bondage of the cycle of birth and death.

As far as the fruit of a person's previous action is concerned, it may come in the form of favourable and unfavourable circumstances. A person cannot change those circumstances, but can make proper use of them for his salvation. Though it is true that external circumstances cannot make the internal self either happy or sad, it is a forewarning to us that if we commit sins again and again we shall have to face adverse consequences. So we are told to perform actions for the welfare of all creatures, rather than for our own pleasures. The Lord further says that you cannot claim the fruit of action because you are not free to get it. It is dispensed only by the Lord.