Here the author describes in short a special aspect of Gita- Karma Yoga. The teachings of Gita are universal and valid to the whole mankind. The concept of Karma Yoga teaches us to do the works at a duty to God. That way one can concentrate to the job. In addition, it reduces frustration and stress as the concept of Karma Yoga teaches us not to concentrate on the end result but to focus on the work itself.

1. Karma Yoga: a perspective of
the Bhagavad Gita
Dr A. Barai
MBBS, MRCS, MSc (Critical care)
Registrar, Emergency Medicine

2. Introduction
• The Bhagavad Gita has been considered as one of the most
well-known, most read and widely followed Vedic literature.
• Its teachings and messages are still very clear and valid.
• Among the various subsections of the Gita, Karma Yoga has a
special importance not only because of the fact that it was
the main teaching of Krishna but also due to its practical
implications to our real life scenarios.

3. Karma yoga
• Karma means the virtues that we carry from one
birth to the next.
• The informal meaning of Karma is good or bad luck
as a result of one’s actions
• This is a common belief among the Hindus and
Buddhists that whatever we do during our life time
has a consequence during the next life.

4. Gita: Background
• The Gita has set up the scene very beautifully to discuss
about Karma and its implications on one’s life
• Krishna was the driver of chariot of Arjuna in the
battleground of Kurukshestra during the time of
Mahabharata
• Arjuna was confused and did not know what to do as the
enemy group has his family, friends and teachers
• At one stage, he asked Krishna to stop the chariot in the
middle of the battleground and started asking Krishna
various questions about life, death, afterlife, karma and
moksha.

5. Gita: Chapter 3
• Krishna has raised a valid point about Karma Yoga.
• He clarified the fact that we are all doing our duties
knowingly or without our knowledge [3-7].
• Krishna advocates that it would a superior thing to
work without attachment or thinking about the
results [3-19].

6. Gita: Chapter 3
• Krishna also clarified the fact that all works belong to
Vishnu and therefore there is no need of bondage
with the work
• He advises Arjuna, and the readers of the Gita, to
focus on the work as if it is a service to the Godhead.
• A great man can do his Karma and the whole world
would follow him [3-21]. On the other hand, if one
does not do the Karma, he is disobeying the
Godhead and thus is involved with a sinful act.

7. Gita: Chapter 3
• To explain Karma, Krishna also mentioned about
sacrifice in the form of Yajna.
• He depicted the fact that one can perform Karma as
Yajna or sacrifice to the foot of God. Therefore,
Karma Yoga is an act towards the God.
• This is a perfect way of focusing one’s attention to
the work or deed without getting distracted by the
attachments and results.

8. Gita: Chapter 3
• Krishna concluded that one must not look for the
result of his duties, rather one must be engaged in
the work as Karma and that way one will be able to
achieve the goal that is Moksha.
• Therefore, Krishna used the concept of Karma Yoga
in a wonderful way to convince Arjuna that his duty
was to fight in warfare irrespective of considering the
results.

9. Gita: other Chapters
• Chapter 3 is specifically dedicated to portray a
clear picture of Karma Yoga.
• Implications of Karma to the three Gunas can
be revealed in Chapter 14.
• Chapters 4 and 18 shows mention of Karma
and aKarma (selfish act).

10. Obstacles to Karma Yoga
• Firstly, there may be a complete lack of
knowledge of the person about Karma Yoga.
• Secondly, performing the duties with personal
attachments usually ends up as a sinful act.
• Thirdly, there may be ego and lust as
obstacles in the path of performing Karma.

11. Applicability of Karma Yoga
• Applicability of the teachings of the Gita is one of the
many reasons for its popularity these days.
• There are two dimensions of Karma Yoga-
– The duty orientation
– The absence of desire for rewards.
• By application of Karma Yoga in the practical
workforce in the companies there could be increased
dutifulness and more stress-free environment (Molla
and Krishna, 2006).

12. Applicability of Karma Yoga
• Bregman (2012) revealed the fact that stress and
frustrations develop due to failure to achieve high
expectations.
• The concept of Karma teaches us not to focus on the
end result, rather to focus on the work itself.
• This can be a real pearl in the material world as we
can reduce the stress and frustration by not
concentrating on the results at all.

13. Recommendations
• From the study of Gita, one can learn a vivid
picture of Karma Yoga.
• Its applicability to the real world can be highly
recommended.
• Further studies may open up new avenues
about the awareness and applicability of the
concept of Karma Yoga

14. Conclusion
• Karma Yoga is a valid and universal concept
that can shape one’s life and activities.
• Krishna has wonderfully pointed to the fact
that Karma is actually a devotional work to the
God and by doing it we can be dutiful to the
God himself.

15. References
• Bregman, P. The Best Strategy for Reducing Stress. Harvard
Business Review Blog.Web:
http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2012/07/the-best-strategy-for-reducing.html
[Last accessed on 15th July 2013]
• Hawley, J. The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners.
2001. New World Library, Novato, California.
• Mulla, ZR and Krishna, VR. Karma Yoga: A Conceptualization and
Validation of The Indian Philosophy of work. Journal Of Indian
Psychology 2006, Vol.24, Nos. 1 & 2. pp. 26-42.
• Prabhupada, ACB. Bhagavad- Gita As It Is. 1984. The
Bhactivedanta Book Trust, Los Angeles, California.

16. Thank you.
drbarai@gmail.com