Bhagavad Gita 2.47 · Krishna
Do the work. Let the worry go.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadācanamā karmaphalaheturbhūrmā te saṅgo’astvakarmaṇi
Your right is to the work alone, never to its fruits. Don't let the fruits be your motive, and don't give up work either.
Words
- karma
- adhikāra
What it means
Krishna isn't saying results don't matter. He's saying your part is karma, the action itself. Your adhikara, your right, lives in the doing. The outcome depends on a thousand things you don't control. Cling to it, and fear creeps into your work. And don't use that as an excuse to stop. Inaction is not the answer.
The story
On the battlefield, Arjuna freezes. Not because he can't fight, but because he's terrified of what winning will cost. Krishna turns to him. Give everything to what's in front of you, and let go of the worry about how it turns out.
In your life
Tonight, pick one task. Do it as well as you can. Then close the laptop, and let the worry about the result go.
Do the work. Let go of the worry over the fruit.