कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 47 || |
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“Your right is for activity only, never for the fruit of actions. Do not consider yourself to be the cause of the fruits of your actions; neither allow attachment to inactivity.”
Commentary
Man should make all efforts to foresee the consequences of his actions, understand the market/societal trends and perform actions for his own welfare and of the society, to achieve the highest level of grace from God with health, wealth, love and happiness. However his right is limited to performing actions only, without attachment to success or failure.
Just as the Constitution of a country gives a few fundamental rights and liberties to its citizens and protects them, the Cosmic Creator has given few rights and liberties. Regarding karma, if man either thinks he is the creator of the consequences of his actions or stoops to inactivity, he is doomed.
No life species from humans, animals, birds to the smallest insects can be inactive. Self-preservation is an in-built instinct. Whether self-conscious or not, fundamentally the mind always runs and the body always needs food. What then is inactivity/inaction/akarma?
Information that is actionable is knowledge and that which is non-actionable is entertainment. Knowledge put into action for the welfare of self, family and society with the ultimate purpose of pleasing God is karma (activity). Entertaining actions that please the senses is akarma (inactivity). Body and mind get divinely recharged when karma is done and the devotee can feel tangible guidance and blessings of the Cosmic Law-maker.