Transcendental Knowledge · 2.47
The Right to Act
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi
Translation
You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
Meaning
This foundational verse of the Bhagavad Gita introduces karma yoga — the path of selfless action. Krishna teaches Arjuna that our authority lies only in acting, never in commanding the results. True freedom comes from doing our duty with full effort and zero attachment to outcome.
⚡ Study this verse
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