BHAGAVAD GITA: WORK; WITH EVENNESS OF MIND 2.47-48

2013-11 Bhagavad Gita: Work With Evenness of Mind BG 2.47-48

[I started studying Gita at the age of 15.  Over the years I studied various commentaries such as Swami Chitbhavananda's, Gandhiji's Aanasakti Yoga, Bala Gangadhara Tilak's Gita Rahasya, Saint Jnaneshwar's Bhavartha Deepika and the latest at 70 years, Swami Ranganathananda's Universal Message of the Bhaghavad Gita.  Among these, Swami Ranganathananda's 3-Volume Set, appeals to me the most, as it gives a lucid, verse by verse exposition of the Gita, as applicable in our everyday life.]

I learnt the following first lessons of life from the Bhagavad Gita:

Your right is to work only; never to its fruits.

Do not work, motivated by its fruits. Do not be attached to inaction.                                 [BG 2:47] 

कर्मणि एव  अधिकारस्ते  मा  फलेषु  कदाचन |
मा कर्मफल हेतुः  र्भूः  मा  ते सङगः अस्तु अकर्मणि       ||                                                          [BG 2:47]  


With a balanced mind, do all the work, giving up attachment on fruits of action;
keeping the mind even, in success and failure. This evenness of mind is called Yoga.         [BG 2:48]

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय |
सिद्धिः असिद्धियोः  समः  भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते  ||                                                           
[BG 2:48]