कर्म

"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions."

The foundational teaching: separate your effort from your expectation.

"Therefore, without attachment, always perform your duty. By doing so, one attains the Supreme."

Desireless action is not passive — it is the most powerful form of engagement.

"The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore, one should know the nature of action, the nature of inaction, and the nature of forbidden action."

Karma is subtler than it looks — action, inaction, and wrong action all have consequences.

"One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men."

The paradox at the heart of karma yoga: the sage acts completely, yet remains untouched.

"One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results to God, is not affected by sinful reactions — as a lotus leaf is untouched by water."

The lotus image: fully in the water, never wetted by it.

"Acts of sacrifice, charity and penance are not to be abandoned — they must be performed. Sacrifice, charity and penance purify even the great souls."

Even renunciates must act — there is no freedom in abandoning all action.

"One should not abandon duties born of one's nature, even if those duties are imperfect — for all undertakings are accompanied by imperfection, as fire by smoke."

Imperfect authentic action beats flawless imitation — your karma is your own.