Bhagavad Gita 2.47
Krishna to Arjunaकर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥ ४७ ॥
Transliteration
karmaṇy evādhikāras temā phaleṣu kadācanamā karma-phala-hetur bhūrmā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi
Your responsibility is for action alone, never for its fruits. Do not make the fruit of action your motive, and do not become attached to inaction.
Original King of Dwarka translationReflection inspired by Bhagavad Gita 2.47
A task can matter deeply without becoming a claim on its outcome. The verse holds effort and release together, and leaves no refuge in doing nothing.
Source & context
Krishna speaks to Arjuna about action and its fruits. Adhikāra is rendered responsibility here; it can also mean entitlement or sphere of agency.