Act for the Action's Sake

The scriptures dwell in duality.

Be beyond all opposites, Arjuna:

anchored in the real, and free

from all thoughts of wealth and comfort.

As unnecessary as a well is

to a village on the banks of a river,

so unnecessary are all scriptures

to someone who has seen the truth.

You have a right to your actions,

but never to your actions' fruits.

Act for the action's sake.

And do not be attached to inaction.

Self-possessed, resolute, act

without any thought of results,

open to success or failure.

The equanimity is yoga.

Action is far inferior

to the yoga of insight, Arjuna.

Pitiful are those who, acting,

are attached to their action's fruits.

The wise man lets go of all

results, whether good or bad,

and is focused on the action alone.

Yoga is skill in actions.

The wise man whose insight is firm,

relinquishing the fruits of action,

is freed from the bondage of rebirth

and attains the place beyond sorrow.

When your understanding has passed

beyond the thicket of delusions,

there is nothing you need to learn

from even the most sacred scripture.