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16: Bhagavad Gita Class by Swami Tadatmananda - Ch.2 Verse 47
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Spiritual seekers wanting to understand karma yoga and correct misinterpretations of the Gita.
TL;DR
Swami Tadatmananda explains karma yoga as a set of attitudes, not actions, that transform daily life into spiritual practice. He corrects the mistranslation of Bhagavad Gita 2.47, clarifying that adhikara means control over actions, not results, which belong to Ishvara's intelligent order.
Key Takeaways
- Karma yoga is not about performing rituals or merely doing duties; it is a set of attitudes that transform ordinary activities into spiritual practice.
- Ordinary actions are driven by raga (compulsion to seek pleasure) and dvesha (compulsion to avoid pain), which karma yoga aims to replace with healthier motivations.
- The verse 'you have a right to actions but not results' is a common mistranslation; the correct meaning is you have control over actions but no control over results.
- Adhikara in Sanskrit means scope of authority or control, not a legal right, clarifying that we control our actions but not their outcomes.
- Results are governed by Ishvara's intelligent order, such as the law of gravity, highlighting that divine intelligence orchestrates outcomes beyond human control.
- Understanding that we control only actions, not results, helps release the compulsivity of raga and dvesha, fostering a spiritual attitude in daily life.
In This Video
- 00:00Introduction to Karma Yoga
Swami Tadatmananda introduces karma yoga as a set of attitudes, not just actions.
- 01:03Recitation and Context
Class begins with chanting verses 44-47, setting the stage for karma yoga discussion.
- 05:35Karma Yoga Defined
Karma yoga transforms ordinary activities by removing compulsions of raga and dvesha.
- 09:03Verse 47: Common Mistranslation
The most quoted verse is often mistranslated due to confusion over the word 'adhikara'.
- 12:44Correct Meaning of Adhikara
Adhikara means scope of authority or control, not rights, clarifying the verse's intent.
- 15:03Control Over Actions, Not Results
We control actions, but results depend on Ishvara's intelligent order, like gravity.
- 16:40Ishvara's Role in Results
Results are governed by Ishvara's intelligence, emphasizing surrender and detachment.
Questions & Answers
What does karma yoga mean in Bhagavad Gita?
Karma yoga is a set of attitudes that transform ordinary activities into spiritual practice by removing compulsions of raga and dvesha.
What is the correct translation of Bhagavad Gita 2.47?
You have control over your actions alone, but never over the results. This is about scope of authority, not rights.
Why is adhikara mistranslated in Gita 2.47?
Hindi meaning of adhikara as 'right' is wrongly used. In Sanskrit, it means scope of authority or control over actions.
How does karma yoga remove raga and dvesha?
Karma yoga replaces compulsive drives toward pleasure and away from pain with new attitudes, making actions spiritual.
Who controls the results of actions according to Gita?
Ishvara's intelligent order, like gravity, controls results. You control only your actions, not outcomes.
Key Terms
- Adhikara — Scope of authority or control over actions, not a right to results.
- Raga — Compulsion to chase after what gives pleasure.
- Dvesha — Compulsion to avoid what causes pain or deprives pleasure.
- Ishvara — The intelligent order behind the universe, controlling results of actions.