na dveṣhṭy akuśhalaṁ karma kuśhale nānuṣhajjate
tyāgī sattva-samāviṣhṭo medhāvī chhinna-sanśhayaḥ
na — neither;
dveṣhṭi — hate;
akuśhalam — disagreeable;
karma — work;
kuśhale — to an agreeable;
na — nor;
anuṣhajjate — seek;
tyāgī — one who renounces desires for enjoying the fruits of actions;
sattva — in the mode of goodness;
samāviṣhṭaḥ — endowed with;
medhāvī — intelligent;
chhinna-sanśhayaḥ — those who have no doubts
This verse from the Bhagavad Gita teaches us important lessons about work and attitude. It tells us that everyone must work, and we cannot stop doing work altogether. The key point here is about how we approach our work and what we aspire to achieve from it.
When someone is described as being in the 'mode of goodness', it means they maintain a balanced and positive state of mind. Such a person is not hateful toward work that is tough or unpleasant, nor are they overly attached to work that seems more favorable or rewarding.
Think of it this way: let's say you have a job that you dislike because it is boring or difficult. A person in the mode of goodness would face this job without resentment. They understand it is a part of life and do it because it needs to be done. At the same time, when involved in enjoyable or successful work, they won’t let that enjoyment control them or judge others who are stuck with harder tasks.
This attitude shows that they are confident and clear-minded about their tasks. They don't worry about whether a job is good or bad; they focus on doing their duty and doing it well. They are faithful in their approach, believing that every bit of work can serve a higher purpose.
In a practical context, you can think of people who work really hard in their daily jobs and still try to make a positive impact. Many people from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, for instance, work in various types of jobs and contribute the fruits of their labor back to their community or their beliefs. They don't just work for themselves but for the greater good.
These individuals truly understand the nature of renunciation, which, in simple terms, means letting go of the desire for personal gain from their actions. This is what deepens their spiritual life. They become like true monks ('sannyasis') because they have learned to detach themselves from the results of their work. The true essence of renunciation is not about abandoning action but offering the results of all actions to a higher purpose or deity, in this case, Krishna.
In conclusion, this verse encourages us to embrace work with a clear mind and a good heart. It asks us to remain detached from the outcomes while still giving our best. By working this way, we align ourselves with a higher purpose, which can lead to deeper satisfaction and peace in life.