Bhagavad Gita BG 2.47
Chapter 2, Verse 47 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥ ४७ ॥
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 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.
Understanding
The most celebrated verse of the entire Bhagavad Gita — the heart of Karma Yoga. Four principles: (1) 'karmaṇy eva adhikāraḥ te' — your right is to action alone; (2) 'mā phaleṣu kadācana' — never to its fruits; (3) 'mā karma-phala-hetuḥ bhūḥ' — do not consider yourself the cause/enjoyer of results; (4) 'mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi' — do not be attached to inaction. Action without ownership of results — this is the liberating teaching that has guided generations.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कर्मणि | karmaṇi | in action / to action |
| अधिकारः | adhikāraḥ | right / authority / entitlement |
| मा फलेषु | mā phaleṣu | not to the fruits / not in the results |
| कदाचन | kadācana | at any time / ever |
| कर्मफलहेतुः | karma-phala-hetuḥ | the cause of the fruits of action |
| सङ्गः | saṅgaḥ | attachment |
| अकर्मणि | akarmaṇi | in inaction / to not acting |
| एव | eva | alone / only (you have right only to action) |
| ते | te | your / of you |
| मा | mā | not / never (prohibition, appears thrice) |
| भूः | bhūḥ | let you be / may you become (2nd-person imperative) |
| अस्तु | astu | let there be / may there be |