कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि।।2.47।।
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते।।2.48।।
दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय।
बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः।।2.49।।
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते।
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्।।2.50।।
कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः।
जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम्।।2.51।।
Your right is only to act, not to the results. Do not be the cause of the results of action. Do not have any inclination towards inaction.
By being established in Yoga, O Dhananjaya (Arjuna), undertake actions, casting off attachment and remaining equanimous in success and failure. Equanimity is called Yoga.
O Dhananjaya, indeed, action is inferior to the yoga of wisdom. Take refuge in wisdom. Those who thirst for rewards are pitiable.
Possessed of wisdom, one rejects here both virtue and vice. Therefore, devote yourself to (Karma-) yoga; for yoga is skilfulness in action.
For those devoted to wisdom, they become enlightened men by giving up the fruits of their actions, and thus they reach a state beyond evil, having been freed from the bondage of birth.
Osho’s Commentary
This is the very heart of the Gita’s message on action. Your right is to the work, but never to the fruit. This is a revolutionary statement. Our whole life is oriented towards the fruit, the result. We act only for the sake of what we will get. And because of this, our action is always filled with anxiety, with tension. Krishna is teaching the art of acting with total absorption in the present moment, without any concern for the future. Let the action itself be your joy, your reward. And do not be attached to inaction either. To renounce action out of laziness or fear is not the way. Be established in yoga, perform your actions, abandoning attachment, and being the same in success and failure. This evenness of mind is called yoga. Action done with a desire for the fruit is far inferior to the yoga of wisdom. Seek refuge in wisdom. Pitiful are those who work for the fruit. The one who is united with wisdom casts off both good and evil deeds here itself. Therefore, devote yourself to yoga. Yoga is skill in action. The wise, united with wisdom, having abandoned the fruit of action, and freed from the bondage of birth, go to the state beyond all sorrow.