तस्मादसक्त: सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर |
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुष: || 19||
tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samāchara
asakto hyācharan karma param āpnoti pūruṣhaḥ
tasmāt—therefore; asaktaḥ—without attachment; satatam—constantly; kāryam—duty; karma—action; samāchara—perform; asaktaḥ—unattached; hi—certainly; ācharan—performing; karma—work; param—the Supreme; āpnoti—attains; pūruṣhaḥ—a person
Translation:
Therefore that work which should be done, do it well always without attachment. He who performs all the prescribed duties in a detached spirit will attain the Supreme.
Commentary:
Work should be done (1) without attachment and (2) as prescribed by the Sastras. Working in this way, the action becomes a means of liberation. So people should always perform Nishkama Karma. Detached work leads to the Supreme. Otherwise, it binds and becomes the cause of samsara. This is the secret of Karma yoga.
It is here explained how karma yoga along with other yogas leads to emancipation. By Nishkama Karma the mind is purified and then it ascends to the highest plane. Moksha is the purity of mind. Purity is attained by detached action.
Generally among seekers very few take to Jnana yoga or Dhyana yoga. Most people are naturally inclined to Karma yoga and Bhakti yoga. So the Lord lays special emphasis on Karma yoga as it is the natural path of evolution for the majority of mankind.
Swami Vivekananda Says —
To work without motive, to work unattached, brings the highest bliss and freedom. This secret of karma-yoga is taught by the Lord Shri Krishna in the Gita.[Source]
Disciple: But, sir, if one has to renounce the fruits of work, why should one be induced to undertake work which is always troublesome?
Swamiji: In this human life, one cannot help doing some kind of work always. When man has perforce to do some work, karma-yoga enjoins on him to do it in such a way as will bring freedom through the realization of the Atman.[Source]
We also read this in the Gita and learn that we have to work, constantly work with all our power; to put our whole mind in the work, whatever it be, that we are doing. At the same time, we must not be attached. That is to say, we must not be drawn away from work by anything else; still, we must be able to quit the work whenever we like.[Source]
That is the one cause of misery: we are attached, we are being caught. Therefore says the Gita: Work constantly; work, but be not attached; be not caught. Reserve unto yourself the power of detaching yourself from everything, however beloved, however much the soul might yearn for it, however great the pangs of misery you feel if you were going to leave it; still, reserve the power of leaving it whenever you want.[Source]
Question: How should man perform work?
Answer: Man should act without attachment and according to the Sastras.
Question: What is the result of such work?
Answer: Moksha, the highest state of liberation is attained.