Karma Yoga is one of the main themes of the Bhagavad Gita, which is a sacred veda scripture. In the context of the Gita, karma refers to the action or the act of doing. Karma Yoga is the path of selfless action, which involves performing one’s duty without attachment to the outcome or expectation of reward.
The Gita presents the concept of karma yoga through the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, who is a warrior prince and the protagonist of the story. In the beginning of the text, Arjuna is overwhelmed by the thought of fighting his own relatives in the battlefield, and he expresses his desire to give up the battle and retreat from the fight.
Lord Krishna, who is Arjuna’s charioteer and spiritual guide, advises him to perform his duty as a warrior and fight the battle without attachment to the outcome. He explains that every individual has a role to play in society, and it is their duty to perform their role to the best of their abilities, without being attached to the results.
According to Lord Krishna, attachment to the fruits of one’s actions leads to desire, which in turn leads to suffering. On the other hand, performing one’s duty without attachment to the results leads to the purification of the mind and the attainment of inner peace.
Lord Krishna further explains that karma yoga involves performing one’s duty as an offering to the divine, with a sense of detachment and surrender. He emphasizes the importance of doing one’s duty without being attached to the fruits of one’s actions, and without expecting any reward or recognition.
Through the concept of karma yoga, the Bhagavad Gita teaches the importance of performing one’s duty with a sense of detachment and surrender, and of cultivating a spirit of selfless service towards others. It emphasizes the idea that true spiritual growth comes from performing one’s duty without attachment to the results, and from offering the fruits of one’s actions to the divine.