Lasting peace or endless pull

yuktaḥ karmaphalaṃ tyaktvā śāntimāpnoti naiṣṭhikīmayuktaḥ kāmakāreṇa phale sakto nibadhyate

The steady one, free of craving for the fruits of action, finds lasting peace. The unsteady, driven by desire and clinging to fruits, is bound.

What it means

Krishna draws a sharp contrast. Two people may do the same work. One does it without craving the results of karma, and finds naishthiki shanti, lasting, rooted peace. The other is driven by desire and clings to the fruits. They're bound, tied to every outcome. Same action, opposite inner lives.

The story

Arjuna can see both kinds of people on this battlefield. Some fighting for greed, some for duty. Krishna invites him to choose which kind of warrior, and which kind of human, he will be.

In your life

Picture two athletes in the same race. One runs for the joy of running and sleeps well after losing. The other is crushed for weeks. Run your race for its own sake this week.