Vedic Q&AAnswered according to Bhaktivedanta Siddhānta

What does Bhagavad Gita 2.47 mean by 'You have a right to perform duty but not to the fruits'?

✨Vedic Scholar Answer
Verified against Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā As It Is
In the Vedic literature, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa addresses "What does Bhagavad Gita 2.47 mean by 'You have a right to perform duty but not to the fruits'?" with profound philosophical clarity. As declared in BG 2.48, "Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga." The living entity (jīva) is not the temporary physical body, but an eternal, indestructible conscious spark of the Supreme. All material dualities—happiness, distress, anxiety, and sorrow—are bodily transformations that arise from our conditioned contact with the material energy. As Śrīla Prabhupāda explains in the Bhaktivedanta purports, attempting to solve material distress through physical means or self-destruction is an illusion, because the subtle mind and unfulfilled desires accompany the soul into its next state. Rather, as instructed in BG 2.50, one must use the mind to elevate oneself through spiritual intelligence. By taking shelter of devotional service (Bhakti-yoga) and the holy names of the Lord, one conquers all material perplexities and attains eternal peace.
⚠️ Notice:AI can make mistakes. Always cross-verify philosophical conclusions with authentic śāstra and bona fide ācāryas.

Canonical Verse Citations (3)

“Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.”

“A man engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad reactions even in this life. Therefore strive for yoga, which is the art of all work.”

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

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