12 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on action. Explore teachings across 7 chapters.
Karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana, ma karma-phala-hetur bhur ma te sango 'stv akarmani
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
Yad yad acarati shresthas tat tad evetaro janah, sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate
Whatever action a great person performs, common people follow. And whatever standards they set by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
Karmany akarma yah pashyed akarmani ca karma yah, sa buddhiman manushyeshu sa yuktah krtsna-karma-krt
One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among people. They are in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.
Brahmany adhaya karmani sangam tyaktva karoti yah, lipyate na sa papena padma-patram ivambhasa
One who performs their duty without attachment, surrendering the results to the Supreme, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.
Yat karoshi yad ashnasi yaj juhoshi dadasi yat, yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer, whatever you give, whatever austerity you perform—do that as an offering to Me.
Yatra yogeshvarah krishno yatra partho dhanur-dharah, tatra shrir vijayo bhutir dhruva nitir matir mama
Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality.
Yoga-sthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya, siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva samatvam yoga ucyate
Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.
Na hi kashcit kshanam api jatu tishthaty akarma-krit, karyate hy avashah karma sarvah prakriti-jair gunaih
No one can remain without action even for a moment. Indeed, all beings are compelled to act by their qualities born of material nature.
Niyatam kuru karma tvam karma jyayo hy akarmanah, sharira-yatrapi ca te na prasiddhyed akarmanah
You should thus perform your prescribed Vedic duties, since action is superior to inaction. By ceasing activity, even your bodily maintenance will not be possible.
Tasmāt tvam uttiṣhṭha yaśho labhasva jitvā śhatrūn bhuṅkṣhva rājyaṁ samṛiddham, mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sāchin
Therefore, arise and attain glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. They are already slain by My arrangement; you are merely an instrument.
Sukha-duhkhe same kritva labhalabhau jayajayau, tato yuddhaya yujyasva naivam papam avapsyasi
Fight for the sake of duty, treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat. Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin.
Buddhi-yukto jahatiha ubhe sukrita-dushkrite, tasmad yogaya yujyasva yogah karmasu kaushalam
One who practices yoga of the intellect abandons both good and bad deeds in this life. Therefore, strive for yoga. Yoga is skill in action.