Verse-9
Chapter 3 — Karma Yoga
Verse 9
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
yajñārthātkarmaṇo'nyatra loko'yaṁ karmabandhan
tadarthaṁ karma kaunteya muktasaṅgaḥ samācara
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
By doing works otherwise than for sacrifice, this world of men is in bondage to works. That is why, O Arjun! Becoming free from all attachments do your work very well as a sacrifice.
It is true that with action bondage is associated. But in the Gita there is a profound thinking on the subject of action, and a mysterious inspiration associated with it. Doing works other than as a sacrifice will cause bondage for the performer. What is yajna (sacrifice)? Is sacrifice only making material oblation to the gods in the sacrificial fire? No, that is also a sacrifice but that is not the only one; it is not so. Sacrifice in the Gita is interpreted in the larger sense. It is the answer to several questions. The gist of all works as per the Gita's yoga of action is sacrifice.
From the reflective point of view, discharging duty sincerely is what is called a sacrifice. Perform your duty with total dedication. Have no expectation from your action, no desire, no egoism, no selfish motives, no attachments (just divine dedication, based on His Blessings), no desire to gain pleasure out of it, to give and distribute happiness is what is called a sacrifice. Egoism, attachment, desire and longing should be offered as oblation in the vast form of divine existence and should be dedicated and immersed in it and thereafter taking all actions to be His Grace–not the egoism of doing actions, it is happening–this is the higher and larger state of the sacrifice. If actions are performed in such a state of mind then there will be no reason for bondage.
'Tadartham karma kaunteya muktasangah samacara' O son of Kunti! Perform actions for the sacrifice, remaining unattached. Whatever you do, examine that it is not being done with egoistic intellect, not by harbouring selfish motives and under the influence of desires and with special attention to the fact that it is not being performed with attachment to fruit or action itself. The meaning of 'tadartham' is–'tat' indicates the Supreme and 'artham' for Him! In every action visualize the Lord to be the ultimate objective. The direction of attachment will change then where will the question of bondage stand? Action will become the means for joy and salvation.