Mahatma Gandhi Quotation Analysis: It's The Action, Not The Fruit Of The Action, That's Important

“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

It reminds me of a famous Shloka from Holy Bhagavad Geeta which speaks of ‘Nishkam Karma’ (self-less or desireless action):

“Karmanye vadhika raste, Ma phaleshu kadachana

Ma karma phala he tur bhuh, ma te sangotsva karmanye”

This Shloka ostensibly figures out that ‘a person has a right to actions (karma) but not to the results of those actions. Therefore, a person should neither be motivated by the results of his or her actions, nor should the person have any attachment in doing his or her prescribed activities.’

Bhagavad Gita in its various Verses has expounded this idea of performing actions without adhering to the results. Mahatma Gandhi was so influenced by Bhagavad Geeta that he used to call sacred Geeta as his ‘spiritual dictionary’. And it was Gandhiji’s knowledge of holy Geeta that propelled him to quote these highly influential lines.

This great preaching as reiterated by Mahatma Gandhi through these beautiful lines has a deep-rooted sense. The idea that ‘It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important’, ought to be followed by every being in his or her life to be successful.

This idea as re-propounded by Gandhiji is a GREAT MANTRA for being not only a successful person but also to lead a happy and satisfied life. This is not something based on ideals, but it also makes a logical sense as when you do something without thinking about the consequences, your whole mind remains concentrated on your work. As a result, you make it out happen.

Secondly, your detachment with fruits, make you work more efficiently. And even if you fail to achieve the positive results, there is something still left in your bucket i.e. your satisfaction for giving your best.

Thirdly, this idea of non-cohesiveness with fruits, saves you from stress/ overthinking and makes you work with a happy mindset and thus your efficiency further enhances.

Most importantly, you have no control over the results/ fruits but on the actions. The fruits of your actions may not in your power but the actions are. So, rationally why should we waste our precious time on the things which are not in our control. And thus, Gandhiji in a righteous manner has marked out that ‘It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit’.

Further, Gandhiji via this quote has also gone up to say that ‘but that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.’

Indeed, it is better to do something rather not to do anything. Doing nothing would lead to nothing. At least when you apply your efforts, you do not have to repent for not trying anything. And sometimes what happens is; what you did not expect to occur in your favour, actually yield you with the positive results, just because you tried for it. It is also true that, small efforts made consistently would take a massive form someday. Moreover, you should not stop working in right direction only because you are not getting results of your righteous actions as right actions will always lead you in a right direction. Gandhi ji lived up with the idea of ‘live rightly, think rightly, act rightly.’ This single thought has a power to make gigantic impact on your life and your attitude.

Here, I remember one non fictional story which my father used to deliver me in my childhood days. The story goes on like, “there was a rich man who owned a renowned company. After some years of his luxury days, his company suddenly went in a huge loss. Due to the unfatigued continuous loss, the man got trapped by indebtedness. He somehow managed to clear up the debt. Thereafter, he felt so helpless and pale that he was not willing to do anything. His friend then one day asked him, ‘Have you got some experience by running a big company? Have you got the faults that lead to the failure?’ the man replied ‘Yes, obviously.’ His friend again spoke “So, why don’t you go forward with those experiences to start up again?” The man took his friend’s idea further and somehow managed to start the business again by borrowing loans. He did not think of now and then and kept on going. That same man got huge success ahead and was now able to earn more amount than he earned earlier.”

The man kept on performing his actions without thinking about the effects. He went on striving in a particular direction. If he had not done anything, he would not be able to grab his position again and this time with more leisure.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam- the missile man of India in his book “Forge your future” has made special emphasised on WORK. When someone asked him, “how can we be more confident?” he stated, “work, work and work.” This idea of just working for everything you want, connects with the idea of Mahatma Gandhi. As M.K. Gandhi taught us that doing something is better than doing nothing.

Gandhiji lived his life on this theory of doing the right things without thinking about their results. He was a great preacher of non-violence and truth which are the tools of righteousness. He walked with these right tools, treading a right direction. A lot of impediments stranded in his path. But he kept on walking at the right path and finally lead India through a movement that became the reason for independence of our nation. After two hundred years of rule, Indians took breath in an independent sovereign. Gandhiji has proved that if you perform your actions by doing right things, even the wind prefers to blow in your direction. This can also be proved in through a very well-known fact that what you do, gets you in a cosmic way. So, if you do the right things, you would get what is RIGHT and what favours you.

We should implement this idea as put forward by Mahatma Gandhiji to make our lives simpler, better, proper and influential.