Vishnu Karma & Duty Bhagavad Gita Verse
Bhagavad Gita 2.47: Krishna tells Arjuna that his right is to do his work, not to demand its results. Sanskrit text and meaning in simple English.
Sanskrit
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥
In Sanskrit, words in a line often join together when written, so “karmaṇy evādhikāras” looks like one long word. The text is not changed; the transliteration only separates the words so they are easier to read.
Transliteration (IAST)
karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana |
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi ||
Meaning
You have the right to do your work, but never a right to its results. Do not make the hope of a reward your reason for acting, and do not become attached to doing nothing.
Source / Textual Reference
Bhagavad Gita 2.47 (Chapter 2, verse 47)
The Bhagavad Gita is part of the Mahabharata. It records a talk between Krishna and the warrior Arjuna on the field of Kurukshetra, just before a great battle. Krishna is the speaker.
In the second line, the word “hetu” can be read as “motive” (do not act for the sake of results) or as “cause” (do not think you alone cause the results). Teachers explain it both ways. Our translation keeps to the first.
Traditional Significance
This is one of the most quoted verses of the Gita. Krishna speaks it to Arjuna, who is troubled and thinking only about what the coming battle will bring. Krishna turns his attention to the work in front of him. Effort is in a person’s hands; the result depends on many things that are not.
The verse does not tell anyone to stop acting. Its last line warns against that.
Traditional Practice
The verse is mostly read, studied and thought about, and it is often quoted in talks and lessons on the Gita. It is not a mantra with a fixed count of repetitions.
Related Content
- Krishna Janmashtami
- The next verse, Gita 2.48
- Satyam Vada Dharmam Chara, the Upanishad on duty and truth