Karma: A Bhagvatgita view

There are very good answers to this question here. However i will try to present my thoughts little differently. Bhagavat Gita is most practical book related to spirituality. There is no philosophical views expressed in Gita, Every sloka explains the science behind the working of the universe. Krishna never propagates any philosophy, he merely reveals the inner working, Its upto the reader to figure out how to come out of the cycle of birth and death by figuring out a own way.

Now coming to the topic in discussion, many slokas talks about karma yoga, most famous would be the below from chapter 2 verse 47

Karmanyevaadhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachana;

Maa karmaphalahetur bhoor maa te sango’stwakarmani.

Literal sense is very philosophical, and bhagvat gita is anything but philosophy. Its a science. So to understand and appreciate this sloka, we need to have little knowledge about karma and its working.

Every “Action” produces 2 types of “Phala”

1. Drsta Phala: Which can be perceived, Like Salary you get for your work, appreciations when you help someone etc.
2. Adrsta Phala: This gets into your debit credit account, also called Karma generally

Moreover Drsta phala is result of your current action and also previous adrsta phala as shown below

Mathematically

Drsta Phala = Current Action + Adrsta Phala (Karma)

Technically speaking, You have control of only Current Action, do not have any control on past action(Karma), So you have no control(Rights to decide) on the result, The best you can do is give your best effort on current action and leave the unknown to the god. Thats the reason this sloka talks about Adhikara(Authority) and not about dharma(Duty). I feel this is most misunderstood concept of karma yoga and specially this sloka. Karma yoga is karmic science, Krishna explains how karma works, When it binds, When it doesn’t, etc. He never tells this is the right way to be, Its just science what he explains, readers can apply it as they wish.