Chutiyapan Apna Apna

In Chapter 2, Verse 47 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says:

“You have the right to work only but never to its fruits. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.”

Sanskrit: कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥

Transliteration: Karmanye vadhikaraste Ma phaleshu kadachana, Ma karmaphalahetur bhur Ma te sango’stvakarmani.

Now, we do not realise the trap Krishna has laid for us here. Choona lagaara Krishna Kanhaiya. Chutiya bana raa. Lekin apneko pata nahi lagtaa kyunki we want to enjoy this world, and such enjoyment is not possible unless we think we are the karta/doer/agent of action.

So, Kirshna is saying, hiding his smile from us, yes, yes, you have the “right” to action, that is yes, you are “doer”, but…

That “but” we ignore because we are willing to gamble with life.

Now, later on in the same Bhagavad Gita, Chapters 3, 5 and 13, Lord Krishna says:

The forces of Nature do all works. But due to delusion of ignorance people assume themselves to be the doer. (3.27)

The one who knows the truth about the role of the forces of Nature in getting work done does not become attached to the work. Such a person knows that it is the forces of Nature that get their work done by using our organs as their instruments. (3.28)

The wise who knows the truth thinks: “I do nothing at all.” In seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, walking, sleeping, breathing; and speaking, giving, taking, as well as opening and closing the eyes, the wise believe that only the senses are operating upon their objects. (5.08-09)

The one who perceives that all works are done by the powers of material Nature truly understands and thus does not consider oneself as the doer.(13.29)

Now, here, Lord Krishna, the dayaalu that he is, has realised how much we are suffering due to this notion of “doership” and in the above verses he is trying to disabuse us of that notion.

Almost as if he is admitting, “Sorry, yaar, todah chutiya banaya tum logon ko. Maaf karna. Lekin, nothing lost, realize at least now that you are not the karta/doer/agent of action, and be free because to realise you are not the doer or karta is to escape the karma phala.