Nishkam Karma

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita:

"Karmanyeva Adhtkarastbe Ma Phaleshu Kadhachana
Ma Karma-phala-heturbuhu Ma The' Sangab Asthu Akarmani"

This means: "You have the right only to action, and never to the fruits of your actions, nor be attached to inaction".

Only now have I gotten the full import of its meaning, thanks to my sister's hubby and management teacher B.K Chatterjee (BKC). Latter writes in his book - "Organisational Behaviour And Beyond", "Unfortunately this is perhaps the most misinterpreted verse of the Gita, particularly with respect to the word 'fruits'(phala). It does not mean that the objectives or fruits of the work need not bother the doer. It rather means that the fruits should not be understood in terms of personal benefits to the doer."

I often (Oh,who am I kidding all the time) say that I believe in working hard and not really thinking about the outcome. What I conveniently choose not to mention is that perhaps there is an unconscious expectation that some "benefits" would follow no doubt. I was rightly corrected when told that even the result should be reserved and offered to 'him'.

Thus, BKC continues and says "that the doer should remain unconcerned about how he or she would personally benefit from the action and focus sharply on the objectives as well as the means and efforts of the action. This is the recipe for effectiveness."

This he uses in turn to highlight the time-honoured concept of work called 'Nishkam Karma' (NK) or desireless work/ detached involvement.

Even Mahatma Gandhi says,".. let no one consider renunciation to mean want of fruit for the renouncer. Renunciation means absence of hankering after fruit."

BKC concludes the chapter on 'Right Attitude to Work' by urging his readers to practice NK and is of the opinion that,"the human society has consistently failed to benefit from many a good work and many a good idea of many a competent person, simply because all these have been offered without any price-tag attached!"