Teaching
What drives your action matters more than whether it succeeds. A selfish act that succeeds builds worse karma than a selfless one that fails.
Original Text
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः
Transliteration: Kiṃ karma kimakarmeti kavayo'pyatra mohitāḥ
Meaning
The Gita's teaching on nishkama karma — desire-free action — places the weight of karmic consequence on intention, not outcome. This is liberating: you cannot control results, but you can always examine and purify your motive before you act.
Practical Application
Before your next significant decision or action, ask: what is my actual motive here? Is it service, ego, fear, or genuine duty? Do not judge yourself harshly — just see clearly. A clear motive, even an impure one you recognise, is already better than an unexamined one.
Source
Bhagavad Gita, BG 4.16
Attributed to: Vyasa