Diligence, Focus & Doing One's Best
Karmanyevadhikaraste (Bhagavad Gita 2.47 - The Effort-First Shloka)
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥
Karmaṇy Evādhikāras Te Mā Phaleṣu Kadācana | Mā Karma-Phala-Heturbhūr Mā Te Saṅgo'stv Akarmaṇi ||
Simple meaning
You have full agency and right over your honest effort, but not over the final results. Do not let obsession with outcomes paralyze your actions, and never give in to laziness or giving up.
For kids
Your job is to study hard, practice your kicks, and do your best drawing. You can't control what grade the teacher gives or whether your team wins—so just focus 100% on playing your best and having fun with the effort!
Big idea
Process-oriented growth mindset, overcoming exam anxiety, and anti-perfectionism.
Word friends
Tap a word to see what it means.
Karmaṇi
In purposeful action and sincere effort
Eva
Alone
Adhikāraḥ
Your rightful agency and duty
Te
Yours
Mā
Never / do not let
Phaleṣu
In the final scores, outcomes, or results
Kadācana
At any time
Mā Karma-Phala-Hetuḥ Bhūḥ
Do not let anxiety about the outcome be your only motivation
Mā Te Saṅgaḥ Astu
Nor let there be any attachment in you
Akarmaṇi
To laziness, giving up, or inaction