Sometimes I wish I never heard of Krishna...

[gHari]

Yes, Lover Soul, that seems closer to ILK's quoted sanskrit, and closer to the idea she was likely trying to convey. It is verse 2.47 of the Bhagavad-gita spoken by Lord Krsna to His friend Arjuna:<blockquote><center><font color="red">karmaNy evAdhikAras te

mA phaleSu kadAcana

mA karma-phala-hetur bhUr

mA te saGgo 'stv akarmaNi

</center>

karmaNi--in prescribed duties; eva--certainly; adhikAraH--right; te--of you; mA--never; phaleSu--in the fruits; kadAcana--at any time; mA--never; karma-phala--in the result of the work; hetuH--cause; bhUH--become; mA--never; te--of you; saGgaH--attachment; astu--there should be; akarmaNi--in not doing prescribed duties.

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You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

 

PURPORT

There are three considerations here: prescribed duties, capricious work, and inaction. Prescribed duties are activities enjoined in terms of one's acquired modes of material nature. Capricious work means actions without the sanction of authority, and inaction means not performing one's prescribed duties. The Lord advised that Arjuna not be inactive, but that he perform his prescribed duty without being attached to the result. One who is attached to the result of his work is also the cause of the action. Thus he is the enjoyer or sufferer of the result of such actions.

 

As far as prescribed duties are concerned, they can be fitted into three subdivisions, namely routine work, emergency work and desired activities. Routine work performed as an obligation in terms of the scriptural injunctions, without desire for results, is action in the mode of goodness. Work with results becomes the cause of bondage; therefore such work is not auspicious. Everyone has his proprietary right in regard to prescribed duties, but should act without attachment to the result; such disinterested obligatory duties doubtlessly lead one to the path of liberation.

 

Arjuna was therefore advised by the Lord to fight as a matter of duty without attachment to the result. His nonparticipation in the battle is another side of attachment. Such attachment never leads one to the path of salvation. Any attachment, positive or negative, is cause for bondage. Inaction is sinful. Therefore, fighting as a matter of duty was the only auspicious path of salvation for Arjuna.</blockquote>

 

During a morning walk Srila Prabhupada speaks further of this verse:<blockquote>PrabhupAda: No, you should work for the result. KarmaNy evAdhikAras te mA phaleSu kadAcana. But do not think that because you working very nicely, the result will come. That is the... Because it is not in your hand. Therefore, karmaNy evAdhikAras te mA phaleSu kadAcana: "Your duty is to go on working, but don't expect the result as you desire." That will never happen unless it is sanctioned. Just like a man is suffering. Your duty is to appoint nice physician, nice medicine. But is there any guarantee that he will live? Why does he die? You can say that "I have given the best medicine and best medical treatment." Still, he dies. </blockquote>

 

In the commentaries on the Srimad-Bhagavatam Srila Prabhupada again describes the purport of this verse:<blockquote>Verse 6.2.7p: The living entity is ordered to act according to his position. Victory or defeat depends on the Supreme Lord. KarmaNy evAdhikAras te mA phaleSu kadAcana: "You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of actions." One must act sincerely, according to his position. Victory or defeat depends on the Lord.

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Verse 6.16.11p: One should execute one's devotional duty, and for the results of one's actions one should depend upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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Verse 7.7.48p: As far as economic development is concerned, we should discharge our occupational duties but fully depend on the lotus feet of the Lord for the results. KarmaNy evAdhikAras te mA phaleSu kadAcana: "You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action." According to one's position, one should perform his duties, but for the results one should fully depend upon KRSNa. Narottama dAsa ThAkura sings that our only desire should be to perform the duties of KRSNa consciousness. We should not be misled by the karma-mImAMsA philosophy, which concludes that if we work seriously the results will come automatically. This is not a fact. The ultimate result depends upon the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In devotional service, therefore, the devotee completely depends upon the Lord and honestly performs his occupational duties. Therefore PrahlAda MahArAja advised his friends to depend completely on KRSNa and worship Him in devotional service.

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Verse 8.11.48p: It is significant that Bali MahArAja is here said to be very experienced. Although defeated, he was not at all sorry, for he knew that nothing can take place without the sanction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since he was a devotee, he accepted his defeat without lamentation. As stated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Bhagavad-gItA (2.47), karmaNy evAdhikAras te mA phaleSu kadAcana. Everyone in KRSNa consciousness should execute his duty, without regard for victory or defeat. One must execute his duty as ordered by KRSNa or His representative, the spiritual master. AnukUlyena kRSNAnuzIlanaM bhaktir uttamA. In first-class devotional service, one always abides by the orders and will of KRSNa.</blockquote>