Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism's Greatest Thinker

by Pavan K. Varma

The most important concept that the Gita enunciated was that of nishkama karma, of action, without attachment or thought of reward, done without selfish desire in a spirit of surrender. Krishna says: Hear my truth about the surrender of works, Arjuna. Surrender, O best of men, is of three kinds. Works of sacrifice, gift, and self-harmony should not be abandoned, but should indeed be performed; for these are works of purification. But even these works, Arjuna, should be done in the freedom of a pure offering, and without expectation of a reward. This is my final word. It’s not right to leave undone the holy work which ought to be done. Such a surrender of action would be a delusion of darkness. And he who abandons his duty because he has fear of pain his surrender is of Rajas, impure, and in truth he has no reward. But he who does holy work, Arjuna, because it ought to be done, and surrenders selfishness and thought of reward, his work is pure, and is peace. This man sees and has no doubts: he surrenders, he is pure and has peace. Work, pleasant or painful, is for him joy. For there is no man on earth who can fully renounce living work, but he who renounces the reward of his work, is in truth a man of renunciation. When work is done for a reward, the work brings pleasure, or pain, or both, in its time; but when a man does work in Eternity, then Eternity is his reward.