Niskayuna Karmayoga in the Bhagavad Gita

Action without self-interest - Part 1

- Muralilal Dhanuka

Lord Krishna, in Chapter 2 - verse 47 of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, says, “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.” It simply means that our right is to perform our duty only and we are free in it.

In this verse, the Lord further says, “Let you not be responsible for the fruits of action.” It means that you should not have the least attachment for the body, senses, mind, and intellect etc. because attachment for these will make you responsible for the fruit of action.

In this verse, the Lord also cautions us, “Let your attachment not be to inaction,” because by leaning towards inaction, we will become lazy and idle, and like the desire for fruit, it will also mislead us towards bondage. Leaning towards inaction, we will have an affinity with a Tamasika temperament, such as idleness and laziness.