Chapter 2. Contents of the Gita
Summarized
TEXT 47
karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadacana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango 'stv akarmani
ma phalesu kadacana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango 'stv akarmani
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
PURPORT
There
are three considerations here: prescribed duties, capricious work, and
inaction. Prescribed duties refer to activities performed while one is in the
modes of material nature. Capricious work means actions without the sanction of
authority, and inaction means not performing one's prescribed duties. The Lord
advised that Arjuna not be inactive, but that he perform his prescribed duty
without being attached to the result. One who is attached to the result of his
work is also the cause of the action. Thus he is the enjoyer or sufferer of the
result of such actions. As far
as prescribed duties are concerned, they can be fitted into three subdivisions,
namely routine work, emergency work and desired activities. Routine work, in
terms of the scriptural injunctions, is done without desire for results. As one
has to do it, obligatory work is action in the mode of goodness. Work with
results becomes the cause of bondage; therefore such work is not auspicious.
Everyone has his proprietary right in regard to prescribed duties, but should
act without attachment to the result; such disinterested obligatory duties
doubtlessly lead one to the path of liberation.
Arjuna
was therefore advised by the Lord to fight as a matter of duty without
attachment to the result. His nonparticipation in the battle is another side of
attachment. Such attachment never leads one to the path of salvation. Any
attachment, positive or negative, is cause for bondage. Inaction is sinful.
Therefore, fighting as a matter of duty was the only auspicious path of
salvation for Arjuna.
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