Full Transcript
Loading transcript…
16: Bhagavad Gita Class by Swami Tadatmananda - Ch.2 Verse 47
Watch with subtitles, summary & AI chat
Add the free Subkun extension — works directly on YouTube.
- Watch
- Subtitles
- Summary
- Ask AI
Students of Hindu scripture and seekers of practical spiritual wisdom.
TL;DR
Swami Tadatmananda corrects common mistranslations of Bhagavad Gita 2.47, explaining that karma yoga is an attitude, not mere duty. He clarifies 'adhikara' as scope of authority, teaching we control actions but not results, which are governed by divine intelligence.
Key Takeaways
- Karma yoga is not about performing Vedic 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); karma yoga removes these compulsions.
- The widely mistranslated verse 2.47 actually means you have control over your actions, but never over the results—not a 'right' to actions or results.
- Adhikara in Sanskrit means 'scope of authority' or 'area of control,' not the Hindi sense of 'right,' which causes confusion in translation.
- Results of actions are governed by Ishvara's intelligent order (e.g., gravity), so while you control the action, Ishvara controls the outcome.
- Understanding that you control actions but not results helps you let go of attachment to outcomes, a core attitude of karma yoga.
In This Video
- 00:00Introduction and Chanting
Swami Tadatmananda welcomes the class and begins recitation of verses 44 onward.
- 05:11Karma Yoga Defined
Karma yoga is a set of attitudes transforming daily activities into spiritual practice.
- 09:03Most Quoted Verse
The most widely quoted and mistranslated verse in the Bhagavad Gita is introduced.
- 12:44Correct Meaning of Adhikara
Adhikara means scope of authority, not rights; you control actions, not results.
- 15:13Control Over Actions
Illustration with dropping a pen: you control the action, not the outcome.
- 17:32Ishwara's Intelligent Order
Results are governed by Ishwara's intelligence, like gravity, not by you.
Questions & Answers
What is karma yoga according to Bhagavad Gita?
Karma yoga is a set of attitudes that transform ordinary activities into spiritual practice by removing compulsions of raga and dvesha.
What does adhikara mean in Bhagavad Gita 2.47?
Adhikara means scope of authority or control, not 'right.' You have control over your actions alone, never over results.
Why is Bhagavad Gita 2.47 often mistranslated?
Because the Hindi word 'adhikar' means 'right,' but in Sanskrit it means 'scope of authority' or 'control,' leading to confusion.
How does karma yoga remove raga and dvesha?
Karma yoga replaces compulsive drives toward pleasure or away from pain with new attitudes, making actions spiritual practice.
Who controls the results of actions in Bhagavad Gita?
Ishvara (God) controls results through intelligent order like gravity; you control only your actions.
Key Terms
- Adhikara — Scope of authority or control over one's actions, not a right to outcomes.
- Raga — Compulsion to chase after anything that seems to give pleasure.
- Dvesha — Compulsion to avoid anything that might cause suffering or deprive pleasure.
- Karma Yoga — Set of attitudes transforming daily activities into spiritual practice by removing raga and dvesha.