A very interesting event in the life of Ramana maharishi, the Sage of Thiruvannamalai has explained about the nishkama karma or the action without expecting the fruit there of.
The event was recorded by S Venkataramaiah on a Christmas day, 25th December, 1935.
Mr Rangachari, a Telugu Pundit in Voorhee's College at Vellore, india asked about nishkama karma or unselfish action. There was no reply from the sage. After a time Ramana maharishi (Sage Ramana) went up the hill and a few followed him, including the pundit. There was a thorny stick lying on the way which Ramana picked up; he sat down and began leisurely to work at it. The thorns were cut off, the knots were made smooth, and the whole stick was polished with a rough leaf. The whole operation took about six hours. Everyone was wondering at the fine appearance of the stick made of a spiky material. A shepherd boy put in his appearance on the way as the group moved off. He had lost his stick and was at a loss. Ramana maharishi immediately gave the new one in his hand to the boy and passed on.
The pundit said that this was the matter-of-fact answer to his question.
What an unselfish action! The sage handed over the polished stick to a shepherd boy. He expected nothing in return.
Ramana said: "Karma Yoga or the Yoga of action is that yoga in which the person does not arrogate to himself the function of being the actor"
According to the Karma Yoga the actions go automatically. Action without the sense of doership is Karma Yoga!
Bhagavat Gita teaches active life from beginning to end.
Skill in action lies in the practice of Karma yoga.
Lord Krishna declares:" Your right is to work only, but never to the fruit thereof. Be not instrumental in making your actions bear fruit, nor let your attachment be to inaction."
Man has a right to action alone, not to the renunciation of action. One has to work according to his will without expecting the fruits thereof.
One who learns this secret is a real karma yogi.