Bhagavad Gita, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda

Doctrine of Karma Yoga - Bhagavad Gita



You only have the right to Work, not its fruits. Bhagavad Gita 2-47 (Sankhya Yoga)

Karma Yoga Course

In Chapter 2 of Sankhya Yoga (Philosophy) of the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna tells Arjuna:

You only have the right to Work, not its fruits. Gita 2-47 (Sankhya Yoga Philosophy)

«You only have the right to Work, not its fruits. Do not let the fruit of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be inaction.» Bhagavad Gita 2-47 Sankhya Yoga

«कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि»|| 47 |
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This verse is very important as it contains the essence of the path of selfless action, Karma Yoga. Our obligation is to work (“You only have the right to work”) in accordance with our Dharma and in accordance with the Shastras.

The Gita-Shastra is Yoga. Bhagavad Gita is Yoga-Shastra

But we have to do it without caring about the results, that is, the fruits of the action. Working towards a result should not be our way of acting (“Do not let the fruit of the action be your motive”).

How can we achieve it? Krishna is very clear: mentally handing over the fruits of labor to the Lord, and as far as possible the result can benefit humanity.

Liberation through Karma Yoga (Philosophy Bhagavad Gita)
Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga

And the Bhagavad Gita also teaches us not to stop acting, not to stop working according to our Dharma (“nor let your attachment be inaction”).

This doctrine of Karma Yoga is a perfect solution to lift the West from the ocean of ignorance in which it has submerged. And let us remember the words of Krishna: “Arise, O Arjuna.”

And let us remember that the greatest lesson of Karma Yoga is given to us by Krishna at the end of the Bhagavad Gita:

The greatest lesson of Karma Yoga (Philosophy) in the Bhagavad Gita: Sri Krishna

For Swami Vivekananda, the Karma Yoga is the purification of the mind through work:

Swami Vivekananda - Karma Yoga: purification of the mind through work

Commentary by Swami Vidya Prakashananda on this verse

In this verse the doctrine of Karma Yoga is declared. Man has the right to work, and not to the fruits of his labor. It means that work (Gita and business) should be done with a spirit of giving the fruits to the Lord. Always and in all circumstances, man must keep his mind free from desire for the fruits of labor.

Otherwise, the mind cannot be brought to a condition of peace and tranquility, and single-pointed concentration becomes impossible. When a man thinks about the results of work, anxieties and fears rush into the mind. The demons of failure stalk the mind. Difficulties and dangers born of the imagination obstruct the way to work. Emotions are disturbed by the shame of failure and the frustration of defeat. Mental energy is thus wasted on painful passions, and man's personality is shipwrecked on the rocks of anger and hatred. Life becomes miserable. This is the practical experience of every individual in the world.

Thus we see that desire-driven work is a disturbing and not a purifying factor in spiritual Sadhana. Unless the mind is purified, man cannot glimpse the Self. Therefore, Nishkama Karma is absolutely essential for spiritual realization.

Source: Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda, translated by Pedro Nonell

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