Chapter 2: Yoga of Knowledge - Verse 47, 48 & 49

Verse 47:

"karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana ma karma-phala-hetur bhur ma te sango 'stv akarmani "

(47) You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
Explanation: There are three considerations here: prescribed duties, capricious work, and inaction. Prescribed duties refer to activities performed while one is in the modes of material nature. Capricious work means actions without the sanction of authority, and inaction means not performing one's prescribed duties. The Lord advised that Arjuna not be inactive, but that he perform his prescribed duty without being attached to the result. One who is attached to the result of his work is also the cause of the action. Thus he is the enjoyer or sufferer of the result of such actions.
Arjuna was therefore advised by the Lord to fight as a matter of duty without attachment to the result. His nonparticipation in the battle is another side of attachment. Such attachment never leads one to the path of salvation. Any attachment, positive or negative, is cause for bondage. Inaction is sinful. Therefore, fighting as a matter of duty was the only auspicious path of salvation for Arjuna.

Verse 48:

"yoga-sthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva samatvam yoga ucyate "

(48) Abandoning attachment and established in Yoga, perform works, viewing success and failure with an even mind. Evenness of mind is said to be Yoga.
Explanation: Abandoning the attachment to kingdom, relatives etc and established in Yoga, the Lord asks Arjuna to engage in war.
Yoga is equanimity of mind which takes the form of evenness in success and failure.

Verse 49:

"durena hy avaram karma buddhi-yogad dhananjaya buddhau saranam anviccha krpanah phala-hetavah "

(49)Action with attachment is far inferior, O Arjuna, to action done with evenness of mind. Seek refuge in evenness of mind. Miserable are they who act with a motive for results.
Explanation: Actions done with equanimity removes all sufferings of Samsara and leads to liberation which is the highest object of human existence. Actions performed with a desire for results leads one to Samsara whose character is endless suffering.
Those who act with attachment to results are miserable, as they will continue in Samsara.

Miserable are they who act with a motive for results.

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