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Bhagavad Gita 2.47

Chapter 2, verse 47: the Sanskrit, the Roman letters, the meaning and what it is used for.

2.47

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि

karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karmaphalaheturbhūrmā te saṅgo'stvakarmaṇi

Meaning

You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not let the fruit of action be your motive, and do not be attached to inaction.

Explanation

This is the most quoted verse of the Gita. It has four parts: you have a claim on your action, not on the outcome; do not make the outcome your reason for acting; and do not, because outcomes are not in your control, decide to do nothing. It does not say that results do not matter. It says that results depend on many things beyond you, so your peace should not depend on them. Students, workers and sportspeople alike turn to it before an effort whose result they cannot control.

Where it fits

This is verse 47 of 72 in chapter 2, "The wisdom of the self and of steady action" (Sankhya Yoga). previous verse (2.46) · next verse (2.48)

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Questions people ask

What does Bhagavad Gita 2.47 mean?

You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not let the fruit of action be your motive, and do not be attached to inaction.

Where is this verse?

It is verse 47 of chapter 2 (The wisdom of the self and of steady action), which has 72 verses.

Meanings and explanations are our own wording, not an authorised translation. Readers of the Gita follow different traditions and teachers; please ask yours about what you read here.