Commentary by Swami Ananda Saraswati
When do you become a failure? That time you become a failure when the result of action is more predominant than the action itself. You think, you can decide. You think, you know better. You think you can get what you want. However, that is not the Karma principle. To understand Karma clearly, I have to work understanding that the result of action is not in my hand. When you understand this, you start working to improve yourself. For example, in many parts of India, when MBA freshers join work, they join work most often for a lesser salary. The MBA fresher, does not look for result of action (i.e. salary), instead looks for experience or growth. This is the principal we must focus on. What you do, that you will get back. Nothing is going to go away, whether you like it or not. Karma has to bring the result. The problem is you get disoriented. Never ever become the boss of the result of action. If the result doesn’t come, you must not get agitated or irritated. Also you must never ever encourage, laziness or lethargy attitude in your life. This verse gives the definition of Karma.
Oh Dhananjaya (Arjuna)! Dhananjaya signifies, that when Rajasuya yajna was done by Yudhistira, Arjuna was given the task of collect wealth for the ritual. Hence Arjuna is known as the ‘collector’ of wealth for such a great ritual which requires lot of effort. Hence was called Dhananjaya. Sometimes in life you have to work for others. When you ask money for your need from others, there is lot of anger, agitation, worries and anxiety on what other will think.
When you ask for a cause, you feel better as you are not working for your insecurity. You ask for a cause to see your growth. So even if other person gives or not you neither feel sad nor excited. Arjuna has gone through this as part of collecting wealth for the yajna.
Krishna says that Arjuna needs to be steady with respect to Yoga. With reference to success and failure, you need to grow out of it and make yourself indifferent from failure or success. All your action is directly related to failure and success.
Action is completely connected to failure or success and you have owned up that notion. When you are a failure, you remain a permanent failure unless someone shakes you up. You need to be successful in your own eyes. Only then you can be successful in front of others. You need to give up the bonding, desire or insecurity or strong thoughts related to failure and success. Also you need to develop a mindset which is like a vehicle full of shock absorbers.
Despite many problems, you must be able to have a comfortable life journey. This shock absorber is understanding of life. Instead we get influenced from previous and current life (Vasanas). You need to be aware of your action and thereby you become aware of the consequences of your actions. Else we get disturbed. In life there will be lot of ups and downs.
However, you must be clear that you want to see the growth for yourself. Whatever is required to see my growth has to be done. You need to develop a mind which will have evenness. This attitude of developing this evenness is called Yoga. Never try to prolong happiness or sadness. Else your mind will not be healthy. Developing this jerk-free life is called Yoga.