The popular Fruits of action Shloka (47 chapter 2) ( another copy, edit & paste)

1. Shloka 47 chapter 2 (47/2) is the most widely quoted yet, the most inappropriately interpreted shloka ofTheBhagavadgita.

2. The simple translation of the shloka into English, as suggested by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India can be summarized in four sentences as under:-

a. Your right is to work only.

b. Never to the fruit of the work.

c. Be not instrumental in making your action bear fruit, and

d. Nor let your attachment be to inaction.


3.Your right is to work only. Right is something where you have the options to exercise it or not. You are free to use or not to use your right. No body can force you to exercise your right. It is in contrast to your duties that you have to perform. There may be certain laws or rules to ensure that duties are carried out. It is not so in case of rights. So, it is for you to decide, whether to under take or not to undertake a work. You should consider all aspects of work you are going to undertake. Think of the fruit your work, karma, is going to bear. After due deliberations, if you still feel that you should commit yourself to work, you may go ahead.



4. Never to the fruit of work. With every action, a reaction is attached. With every positive charge there is a negative charge also. With a south pole, there is also a north pole in every magnet. Similarly, for every work you do a fruit is always attached to it. You cannot say,” I have done it, but I do not want its fruit”. You have to take the responsibility of the fruit that your work bears. The fruit to your work can come, both, as a reward or as a punishment depending on the type of work you choose to under take. You have no right to shape the fruit of your actions. It depends on your work. It depends how much effort you have put in. If you have studied well for your exams, your marks will show it. It may happen so, that despite your best efforts, the results are not up to your expectations. Should we now sit and curse? No. Commit your self to work again. Put in more efforts. Try again and again till the goal is achieved. Remember ‘King Bruce and the spider’.



5. Be not instrumental in making your actions bear fruit.It simply warns you from being crafty. There is no harm if you are working hard to become a professional or even rich. It is your right to excel in your field. But getting lured by the fruit alone is nothing but the greed. The greed of fruit may mislead you from your goal. You may undertake a work just because fruit appears to be more plump and luring. You may be misled to corner the fruit which belongs to others.May be, you are being opportunist. These ideas have to be shunned, as ultimately, a crafty or greedy person is bound to pay for his misdeeds. All the activities of Duryodhan were crafty. You know the results.



6. Nor let your attachment be to inaction. What is the use? How I am going to benefit from this? Why should I bother my self? These are the questions that arise in our mind. These questions leave us in doubt and hence lead us into inaction. To live is our duty. Even to maintain this body, some actions need to be performed. Shloka 8/3 refers. Even God works. Your instincts will guide to undertake some actions. You may force logic on your mind and shun the action, But instincts will take on. Why else a soldier should die for his mother- land? He sees no immediate reward for himself. Why should people rush to help the distressed? It is not always that we work for the fruit or reward. It is because a good deed done comes around when we need.



7. Action and inaction. It is also not mandatory for us to be always committing ourselves to action. Sometimes not doing an action is also as good as doing an action. At other times an action may be as good as an inaction. A wasted effort is as good as inaction. At times restraining or refraining from action is better than over-action or over-reaction. We tend to over react and over do things. This tendency got to be curbed.



PS : Unconcern for the fruits of action is not an unearthly ideal; it is just part of efficiency at work. When the fruits of action weigh heavy upon you, you are distracted and your dedication is unsteady. You do not do justice to your role. Thoughts of returns should not burden your actions.