Karmanye Vadhikaraste: Meaning (Gita 2.47)

This is perhaps the most quoted verse of the Bhagavad Gita. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, to an Arjuna overwhelmed by doubt and anxiety, Sri Krishna reveals the deepest secret of action in a single line — do your work, but let go of anxiety over its result.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥

Bhagavad Gita · 2.47

karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadāchana, mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi

Word-by-word meaning

Sanskrit	Meaning
karmaṇi eva	in action only
adhikāraḥ te	is your right
mā phaleṣu kadāchana	never in the fruits
mā karma-phala-hetuḥ bhūḥ	do not become the cause of the fruit of action
mā te saṅgaḥ astu akarmaṇi	nor let there be attachment to inaction

Simple meaning

You have a right only to your action — never to its fruits. So do not act for the sake of results, and do not be attached to inaction (idleness) either.

What Krishna is teaching

We often get so anxious about the outcome that we cannot even do the work well. The fear before an exam, the dread of results, the endless "what if" — this is exactly what scatters the mind's power. The Gita says: give your very best, and let the result unfold in its own time.

Three ideas are folded into this verse:

Focus on the effort, not the outcome — pour your energy into what is in your hands.
Attachment to results brings stress — action done as duty brings peace.
Laziness is attachment too — escaping work is not the answer; seeking comfort in inaction is also bondage.

The secret of Nishkama Karma

From this verse comes the Gita's famous principle of Nishkama Karma — doing your duty without attachment to its fruits. It does not mean being goal-less or careless. It means moving toward your goal with full sincerity, without gripping the result. The moment the mind loosens its hold on the outcome, it becomes its most steady, fearless and powerful.

A common misunderstanding

Some read this as "you will get no reward for effort" or "desire is sinful." That is not the meaning. The verse does not deny the fruit — it removes the anxiety and attachment to the fruit, making your action pure and powerful.

How to live it

Studies/exams: Preparation is in your hands; marks depend on many things. Prepare fully, drop the panic over results.
Work/career: Do your job with integrity; treat a promotion or praise as an outcome, not the goal.
Relationships: Give love and duty without entangling the mind in expectation of return.

A small practice

Before starting any task, pause for a moment and say: "My job is to do this with full sincerity; the rest will follow in time." That is this verse, made alive.

Related verses

Gita 2.48 — "samatvaṁ yoga uchyate" (evenness of mind in success and failure is yoga).
Gita 3.19 — the call to keep doing your duty, free of attachment.

Looking for another Gita verse for your situation — stress, fear, or a decision? Our app will find the right shloka for you.

Frequently asked questions

Which chapter of the Gita is Karmanye Vadhikaraste from?

It is verse 47 of the second chapter (Sankhya Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita — Gita 2.47.

What is the simple meaning of Karmanye Vadhikaraste?

You have a right only to your action (duty), never to its fruits. So do not act merely for results, and do not be attached to inaction either.

Does it mean we should not want goals or success?

No. The verse does not forbid having goals — it asks you to drop anxiety and attachment to the outcome. Set your goal, act with full sincerity, but do not cling to the result.

What is Nishkama Karma?

Nishkama Karma means performing your duty without attachment to its fruits. That is the core message of this verse and the foundation of the Gita's Karma Yoga.

How do I apply Karmanye Vadhikaraste in daily life?

Give your best to every task and leave the result to time. In exams, work, or relationships — wherever effort is yours but the outcome depends on many things — this principle keeps the mind calm and focused.