Understand that the fact that you have no control over the fruits of your action, however, should not make you frustrated and stop all action; one should not renounce action out of frustration or fear. When you are afraid of something and you run away from it, then you have yielded to the immensity of the problem. When you run away from anything out of fear, it means, that you still have likes and dislikes (Raaga-Dveshas). When you have likes and dislikes still in your mind, you cannot give up action; they would always drive you to act - and you are helpless here.
When you give up action for any reason (for example, out of fear), it becomes dereliction of duty. You just do not like a particular action – and you want to escape from it. This is what the Bhagavaan refers here as inaction. Attachment to inaction is neither possible nor good. How can you live in this world without performing some action? Action is inescapable. However, neglecting to do what you have to do is not good – from both secular point of view as well as the spiritual point of view.
Vedaanta says – you must work but give up the notion that you are working to fulfill your desires; you are only working to please the god because He wants every one to play his roles in this world considering them as his sacred duties. Vedaanta also says give up your ego; and also give up the notion that you are working for gaining something. This is what an artist does; while painting the picture, he is not aware that he is doing it; he simply loves his work and keeps on working on that basis. Such a work gets success and recognition. Action thus, is a spiritual practice, fundamentally.
The next thought is “About Friends and Enemies”
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