Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer,
first learn to bow in humility before your fellow men,
and apologize to those you have wronged.
Go not to the temple to pray on bended knees,
first bend down to lift someone who is down-trodden.
And strengthen the young ones. Not crush them.
Go not to the temple to ask for forgiveness for your sins,
First forgive from your heart those who have hurt you!
Ravindranath Tagore
The literal meaning of Karma is action. Scriptural meaning of Karma also includes what precedes the action (intentions behind the action), the act – how it is performed and what means are used; and what follows the action (consequences of that action - Karmaphal).
Every thought, word, and act has a ripple effect. All good thoughts, words, and actions have good outcomes. This is the law of Karma. We may not get the result that we were expecting or at the time when we were expecting it. That is beyond our control. We only have control over our thoughts, speech, and action – not on the result. Karma (action) becomes Karma Yog when the action is performed without any desire for selfish gain, the activity is performed according to Dharma (truthfully, without harming anyone, etc.), without anxiety for the result, and all credit for the outcome is offered to God ( Paramātmā) in all humility. It is a discipline that helps to draw the mind away from our own bodies and leads towards others in need and towards God.
The most frequently quoted Shlok on Karma Yog from Bhagavad Gitā says: कम येवा धकार े मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कमफलहेतुभूम ते स गोऽ
कम ण ॥२ :४७॥
Karmaāńyév adhikārah té mā phaléshu kadāchan
Mā Karma-phal-hetur-bhuhu mā té sangah astu aKarmańi
Performance of action is (our) only right.
(We) may not get the fruits (results that we had expected or
when we had expected).
Do not work for the fruits of action.
Do not keep company of inaction either
(not performing action is not an option).
Bhagavad Gitā, II.47
Other Shlok-s on Karma Yog are: यः तु इि या ण मनसा िनय आरभते अजुन ।
कमि यैः कमयोगं अस ः सः िव श ते ॥३ :७॥
Yah tu indriyāni manasā niyamya ārbhaté, Arjun
Karmaéndriyaihi Karmayogam asaktah vishishyaté