Let us examine the implications in some detail. The reward
or Phalam that one normally seeks is invariably connected
with the world. Money, power and position - all these are
connected with the world. When we aspire for and work hard
for these, it implies attachment to the world and the attractions
that the world apparently has. Once there is worldly attachment,
sorrow is inevitable; it could be delayed or postponed for
a while but one cannot dodge it completely. Therefore the
Lord says, “Why be attached to the worldly attractions?
Become detached from them.” Now one cannot say, “OK,
I won’t work, I won’t struggle, and then automatically
the question of aspiring for this or that fades away.”
This kind of escape route is not
available! One cannot dodge doing work or duty – that
is not permitted! One has to work,
one has to do one’s duty,
and one has to perform the prescribed
actions or one’s Karma. How then is one to
escape the clutches of sorrow and pain? By giving up one’s
claim to the fruits of action or Karmaphalam. How
exactly does this help? Well, when one gives up the claim
to rewards, it means that one is doing one’s duty in
a detached fashion. One is not doing it for
the sake of realising worldly triumphs, pleasures, etc. One
is not attracted by or attached to ephemeral things. Once
one has such a feeling, there is no bondage.
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