karmaṇyēvādhikārastē mā phalēṣu kadācana.
mā karmaphalahēturbhūrmā tē saṅgō.stvakarmaṇi৷৷2.47৷৷
श्रीमद् भगवद्गीता
2.47 karmaṇi in work, ēva only, adhikāraḥ right, tē thy, mā not, phalēṣu in the fruits, kadācana at any time, mā not, karmaphalahētuḥ bhūḥ let not the fruits of action be thy motive, mā not, tē thy, saṅgaḥ attachment, astu let (there) be, akarmaṇi in inaction.
Commentary:
When you perform actions have no desire for the fruits thereof under any circumstances. If you thirst for the fruits of your actions, you will have to take birth again and again to enjoy them. Action done with expectation of fruits (rewards) brings bondage. If you do not thirst for them, you get purification of heart and you will get knowledge of the Self through purity of heart and through the knowledge of the Self you will be freed from the round of births and deaths.Neither let thy attachment be towards inaction thinking "what is the use of doing actions when I cannot get any reward for them"In a broad sense Karma means action. It also means duty which one has to perform according to his caste or station of life. According to the followers of the Karma Kanda of the Vedas (the Mimamsakas) Karma means the rituals and sacrifices prescribed in the Vedas. It has a deep meaning also. It signifies the destiny or the storehouse of tendencies of a man which give rise to his future birth.