Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 47 (2.47)
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 47 (2.47)
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि | | २-४७ | |
karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣhu kadāchana mā karmaphalaheturbhūrmā te saṅgo’stvakarmaṇi
Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
- कमइ
(Karmani)— कर्म(your right is only over action) -
evjoined in karmaṇyevādhikāraste - अइकर
(adhikarah)— कर्म(your right is only over action) - ते
(te)— कर्म(do not be attached to inaction) - म
(ma)— कर्म(do not be attached to inaction) - फएउ
(phaleshu)— फएउ(never over the fruits) - कदचन
(kadachana)— कदचन(never over the fruits)
Line 2:
- म
(ma)— कर्म(do not be attached to inaction) - कम-फल-एउ
(karma-phala-hetuh)— कम-फल-एउ(do not become the cause-seeker of results) - उ
(bhuh)— उ(do not become the cause-seeker of results) - म
(ma)— कर्म(do not be attached to inaction) - ते
(te)— कर्म(do not be attached to inaction) - सग
(sangah)— कर्म(do not be attached to inaction) - अस्तु
(astu)— कर्म(do not be attached to inaction) - अकमइ
(akarmani)— कर्म(do not be attached to inaction)
English: Arjuna has a right to action alone, never to its results; he should not act only for results or cling to doing nothing.
Learnings from Shloka 47:
- Effort is your field:: Krishna teaches that we have authority over our action, preparation, discipline, and sincerity.
- Results are not fully ours:: Results depend on many factors beyond one person's control.
- Do not make results the only reason:: If we act only for reward, the mind becomes anxious before the result and proud or broken after it.
- Do not choose inaction:: Detachment from results does not mean laziness. Krishna clearly says not to become attached to doing nothing.
- Freedom through focus:: Karma Yoga trains the mind to give full effort without being trapped by the outcome.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 2.47 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Karma Yoga does not say results do not matter. It says results are not completely in our control. What is in our control is the effort, honesty, preparation, and clarity we bring to the action. This is why Krishna tells Arjuna not to run away from action and not to become obsessed with the fruit of action.
The practical lesson is to know your objective, choose a thoughtful path, and keep moving. If the result is not what you hoped for, the effort is not wasted. It becomes learning, discipline, and a better starting point for the next action.