कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ||२-४७||
karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadācana . mā karmaphalaheturbhūrmā te saṅgo.astvakarmaṇi ||2-47||
Chapter 2 · Verse 47
Sankhya Yoga
सांख्ययोग
In plain words
You are being called to focus entirely on your actions without worrying about the results. This is the essence of karma, or selfless action, where you perform your duties with love and dedication rather than desire for reward. Do not let the fruits of your labor motivate you, and never fall into the trap of laziness.
Translation
2.47 To work alone you have the right, and not to the fruits. Do not be impelled by the fruits of work. Nor have attachment to inaction.
Meaning
When you perform actions have no desire for the fruits thereof under any circumstances. If you thirst for the fruits of your actions you will have to take birth again and again to enjoy them. Action done with expectation of fruits (rewards) brings bondage. If you do not thirst for them you get purification of heart and you will get knowledge of the Self through purity of heart and through the knowledge of the Self you will be freed from the round of births and deaths. Neither let thy attachment be towards inaction thinking what is the use of doing actions when I cannot get any reward for themIn a broad sense Karma means action. It also means duty which one has to perform according to his caste or station of life. According to the followers of the Karma Kanda of the Vedas (the Mimamsakas) Karma means the rituals and sacrifices prescribed in the Vedas. It has a deep meaning also. It signifies the destiny or the storehouse of tendencies of a man which give rise to his future birth.
Word by word
कर्मणि in work एव only अधिकारः right ते thy मा not फलेषु in the fruits कदाचन at any time मा not कर्मफलहेतुः भूः let not the fruits of action be thy motive मा not ते thy सङ्गः attachment अस्तु let (there) be अकर्मणि in inaction.