The fruit given up
Thus far I speak to theeAs from the "Sankhya"--unspiritually--Hear now the deeper teaching of the Yog,Which holding, understanding, thou shalt burstThy Karmabandh, the bondage of wrought deeds.Here shall no end be hindered, no hope marred,No loss be feared: faith--yea, a little faith--Shall save thee from the anguish of thy dread.Here, Glory of the Kurus! shines one rule--One steadfast rule--while shifting souls have lawsMany and hard. Specious, but wrongful deemThe speech of those ill-taught ones who extolThe letter of their Vedas, saying, "ThisIs all we have, or need;" being weak at heartWith wants, seekers of Heaven: which comes--they say--As "fruit of good deeds done;" promising menMuch profit in new births for works of faith;In various rites abounding; following whereonLarge merit shall accrue towards wealth and power;Albeit, who wealth and power do most desireLeast fixity of soul have such, least holdOn heavenly meditation. Much these teach,From Veds, concerning the "three qualities;"But thou, be free of the "three qualities,"Free of the "pairs of opposites," and freeFrom that sad righteousness which calculates;Self-ruled, Arjuna! simple, satisfied!Look! like as when a tank pours water forthTo suit all needs, so do these Brahmans drawText for all wants from tank of Holy Writ.But thou, want not! ask not! Find full rewardOf doing right in right! Let right deeds beThy motive, not the fruit which comes from them.And live in action! Labour! Make thine actsThy piety, casting all self aside,Contemning gain and merit; equableIn good or evil: equabilityIs Yog, is piety!
Therefore the (ruling) sage acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest (arrogantly) in it:--he does not wish to display his superiority.
The Editors’ note
Both separate the deed from the claim to its result. Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna, in Arnold’s verse, to let right deeds be “Thy motive, not the fruit which comes from them”, and to live in action, casting all self aside, equable in good or evil. Laozi’s ruling sage acts without claiming the results as his, and achieves his merit without resting in it.
The Gītā’s teaching is given to a man who wants to stop acting, and it insists on the act: “And live in action! Labour!” Its evenness is a discipline, called yoga, held against the pull of desire. Laozi does not exhort; he describes. His sage is like the Way of Heaven, which diminishes superabundance and supplements deficiency, and he does not wish to display his superiority.