In Bhagavad Gita 2.47, Krishna gives the central principle of karma yoga: we have a right to our actions, never to their results, and we should neither work for reward nor fall into inaction.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते
मा फलेषु कदाचन
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्
मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥ २-४७ ॥
karmaṇyevādhikāraste
mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karmaphalaheturbhūr
mā te saṅgo’stvakarmaṇi
English transliteration karmanyevaadhikaaraste
maa phaleshu kadaachana
maa karmaphalaheturbhoor
maa te sango’stvakarmani ॥ 2.47 ॥
Translation / Meaning
You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कर्मणि karmaṇi | in action |
| एव eva | only |
| अधिकारः adhikāraḥ | right, claim |
| ते te | your |
| मा mā | not |
| फलेषु phaleṣu | in the fruits |
| कदाचन kadācana | ever, at any time |
| मा mā | not |
| कर्मफलहेतुः karmaphalahetuḥ | one whose motive is the fruit of action karma (action) + phala (fruit) + hetuḥ (cause, motive) |
| भूः bhūḥ | be |
| मा mā | not |
| ते te | your |
| सङ्गः saṅgaḥ | attachment |
| अस्तु astu | let there be |
| अकर्मणि akarmaṇi | in inaction |
Word-wise Chanting
- kar–maṇ–ye–vā–dhi–kā–ras–te 8 syllables kar-man-ye-vaa-dhi-kaa-ras-te
- mā pha–le–ṣu ka–dā–ca–na | 8 syllables maa pha-le-shu ka-daa-cha-na
- mā kar–ma–pha–la–he–tur–bhūr– 8 syllables maa kar-ma-pha-la-he-tur-bhoor-
- mā te saṅ–go–‘stva–kar–ma–ṇi || 2-47 8 syllables maa te san-go-‘stva-kar-ma-ni
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 2 Verse 47
Context
Krishna has explained the wisdom of Sāṅkhya and, from verse 2.39, turns to its practice in action, buddhi-yoga. This verse is the core of that turn; the next verse, 2.48, names its fruit: evenness of mind, samatva.
Meaning
This is perhaps the most quoted verse of the Gita, and it is often misread as an instruction to stop caring about results. Krishna says something more precise. Our sphere of freedom is the action itself: the effort, the intention, the quality of attention we bring. Outcomes depend on countless forces beyond any one person, so to stake our identity on them is to live in constant anxiety. Action done for its fruit binds; action done as offering frees.
The verse closes both exits. One must not work only for reward, and one must not escape into inaction either. Withdrawal is not renunciation. The practice is to give full care to what is in front of us, to let go of the demand that life repay us on our terms, and to remain steady whether the result is praise or blame. This is the seed of karma yoga, which the following verses develop into evenness of mind, samatva.
In Practice
Choose one task today. Before you begin, name what you can control (your effort, care and honesty) and what you cannot (the outcome). Give the first fully and offer the second.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.