Action

The sages, united with pure reason, renounce the results of their actions and, liberated from the cycle of birth, they attain a state of bliss.

United with pure reason, one lets go of both good and bad actions. Therefore, embrace yoga, for yoga is skill in action.

The Blessed Lord said: O sinless one, I have explained two paths of dedication in this world from the beginning — the path of knowledge for the contemplative Samkhyas, and the path of action for the Yogins.

Arjuna said: If you hold that discernment is superior to action, O Janardana, then why do you urge me toward this terrible action, O Keshava?

You have the right to action alone, never to its fruits at any time. Let not the fruit of action be your motive, nor let attachment to inaction take hold in you.

O son of Kunti, one should not abandon one's innate duty even if it is touched by fault, for all undertakings are enveloped by flaws as fire is by smoke.

One's own duty, though imperfectly performed, is better than the duty of another well discharged; performing the work allotted by one's own nature, one incurs no sin.

Obligatory action performed without attachment, free of passion and hatred, by one who seeks no fruit — such action is called sattvic.

For one who bears a body, it is not possible to abandon action entirely; but the one who relinquishes the fruits of action — that person alone is truly called a renunciant.

But even these actions should be performed, O Partha, abandoning attachment and the desire for their fruits — this is My firm and highest conviction.

The Blessed Lord said: The sages understand sannyasa as the setting aside of desire-driven actions; the discerning ones declare tyaga to be the relinquishment of the fruits of all actions.

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give, whatever austerity you practise — O son of Kuntī, do all that as an offering to Me.

Surrendering all actions to Me with a mind fixed on the inner Self, free from hope, free from possessiveness — fight, rid of all fever.

All actions are performed in every way by the qualities of nature. The one whose self is deluded by the ego thinks: 'I am the doer.'

O Partha, I have no duty whatsoever in all the three worlds; there is nothing I have not attained nor anything that needs attaining — yet I continue to act.

Therefore, without attachment, constantly perform whatever action ought to be done — for by acting without attachment a person attains the Supreme.

Perform your prescribed duty; action is certainly superior to inaction. Even the maintenance of your body would not be possible through inaction.

Indeed, no one can remain even for a single moment without doing some action; everyone is driven helplessly to act by the qualities born of nature.

A person does not achieve freedom from action by not beginning actions, nor does one attain perfection simply by renunciation alone.

Perform your actions while abiding in yoga, O Dhananjaya, having relinquished all attachment. Be equal in success and failure — this equanimity itself is called yoga.