Bhagavad Gita 2.47

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥

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.

This verse encapsulates the essence of Karma Yoga - the yoga of selfless action. Krishna instructs Arjuna to focus on performing his duty without attachment to outcomes. This teaching addresses the fundamental human tendency to act with expectation of reward.

The verse liberates us from anxiety about results while ensuring we remain engaged in meaningful action. It transforms work into spiritual practice by shifting focus from outcome to process, from achievement to excellence in action itself.