What does Krishna mean by “forget about the fruit of action” in the Bhagavad Gita?

 The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most sacred and influential texts in Hinduism. It contains the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, a warrior prince who faces a moral dilemma before a great war. Krishna teaches Arjuna the principles of dharma (duty), karma (action), and bhakti (devotion) to guide him in his decision.

One of the most famous verses in the Bhagavad Gita is 2.47, where Krishna says:

“Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana Ma karma-phala-hetur bhur ma te sango 'stv akarmani”

This can be translated as:

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.”

Many people interpret this verse as a call to detachment and selflessness. They think that Krishna is telling Arjuna to act without any expectation of reward or outcome, and to focus only on his duty. They believe that this is the way to achieve spiritual attainment or god realization.

However, some people have a different understanding of this verse. They argue that Krishna is referring to spiritual attainment or god realization only when he says “forget about the fruit of action”. They claim that for all other material attainments, such as wealth, fame, power, etc., it is necessary to have “shram” (effort) and “lakshya” (goal). They say that Krishna is not asking Arjuna to renounce his desires or ambitions, but to surrender them to the supreme god. They believe that by doing so, Arjuna will not have to do karma anymore, and god realization will happen automatically.

So, which interpretation is correct? How can we reconcile these two views? What does Krishna really mean by “forget about the fruit of action”?

To answer these questions, we need to look at the context and purpose of Krishna’s teachings in the Bhagavad Gita. We need to understand what kind of karma he is talking about, and what kind of fruit he is referring to. We also need to examine what he means by surrendering to the supreme god.

Krishna’s teachings in the Bhagavad Gita are meant to help Arjuna overcome his confusion and fear before the war. He wants Arjuna to realize his true nature as a soul (atma), which is eternal and unaffected by birth and death. He wants Arjuna to understand his role as a warrior (kshatriya), which is to uphold justice and protect dharma. He wants Arjuna to perform his duty (svadharma), which is determined by his nature (guna) and stage of life (ashrama).

Krishna teaches Arjuna that there are three types of karma: sattvic (pure), rajasic (passionate), and tamasic (ignorant). Sattvic karma leads to happiness and liberation; rajasic karma leads to pain and bondage; tamasic karma leads to delusion and degradation. He advises Arjuna to avoid tamasic karma, which is done out of laziness or attachment; and rajasic karma, which is done out of greed or egoism. He encourages Arjuna to perform sattvic karma, which is done out of wisdom or devotion.

Krishna also teaches Arjuna that there are two types of fruit: material and spiritual. Material fruit refers to the results of actions in this world, such as wealth, fame, power, etc. Spiritual fruit refers to the results of actions in relation to god, such as love, peace, joy, etc. He warns Arjuna that material fruit is temporary and unsatisfying; it can also lead to attachment or aversion, which cause suffering and rebirth. He assures Arjuna that spiritual fruit is eternal and satisfying; it can also lead to detachment or equanimity, which cause bliss and liberation.

Krishna then explains how Arjuna can achieve spiritual fruit by surrendering his actions and their results to the supreme god. He says that by doing so, Arjuna will become free from the bondage of karma; he will not incur any sin or merit; he will not be affected by success or failure; he will not be attached or detached; he will act with love and joy; he will attain god realization.

Therefore, when Krishna says “forget about the fruit of action”, he does not mean that Arjuna to act without any expectation of reward or outcome in the material sense. He means that Arjuna should act with the intention of pleasing and serving god in the spiritual sense. He means that Arjuna should dedicate his actions and their results to the supreme god, who is the source and goal of all actions. He means that Arjuna should forget about his own ego and desires, and remember his true identity and purpose as a soul and a warrior.

This interpretation does not contradict the idea of having “shram” (effort) and “lakshya” (goal) for material attainments. Krishna himself says in the Bhagavad Gita that one should work hard and strive for excellence in one’s chosen field. He also says that one should have a clear vision and direction for one’s life. However, he also says that one should not be attached to the results of one’s actions, or identify oneself with them. He says that one should perform one’s duty as an offering to god, and accept whatever comes as a gift from god.

This way of acting is called karma yoga, or the path of action. It is one of the three paths to god realization taught by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, along with jnana yoga (the path of knowledge) and bhakti yoga (the path of devotion). By following karma yoga, one can purify one’s mind and heart from selfishness and ignorance; one can cultivate wisdom and devotion; one can achieve peace and happiness; one can realize god.

In conclusion, Krishna’s statement “forget about the fruit of action” in the Bhagavad Gita is not a call to renunciation or indifference. It is a call to dedication and surrender. It is a call to act with love and joy for god’s sake, not for one’s own sake. It is a call to realize that all actions are done by god, through god, and for god.

I hope this blog post has helped you understand Krishna’s teachings better. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. Thank you for reading!