Traffic in Delhi is quite something.  I have seen many first time visitors to the country stare in disbelief as vehicles and people zipped around at a crossing with no regard to “normal” traffic rules.

In such a scenario, it is almost impossible to have a scratch free car.  Whenever we buy a new car, we go through a phase of high anxiety for several weeks, till we get that inevitable nick somewhere.

Famous verse from Gita exhorts us to work without having desires.  “Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana, Ma karmaphala hetur bhurmate sangostva karmani”

The literal translation is that we have the right to work but on the outcome.  So we should not desire the outcome but stay attached to the work.  It also says that while giving up the desire for the outcome we should not give up action.

So does it mean that we should not desire to have an accident free trip!

The true meaning of the verse is much clearer if you replace the word “right” with “control”. We have control over our actions but do not have full control over the results.  This is simply an acknowledgement of other forces at work in the universe.  Let us say that we are driving carefully and desire to have an incident free trip.  However whether our car will get nicked or even get rear ended, is not totally in our control.

Nowhere does the verse say, do not have a desire.  Desire is the intent, without desire no action is possible.  Desire gives direction to our action.  The advice is not to believe that desired outcome is certain due to our action.  This is practical advice, it teaches us to factor in broader circumstances and actions.  Each of these can alter the outcome.  Just like it is possible for a careful driver to get into an accident due to the mistake of a careless driver.  No matter how careful you are, the outcome of an accident free trip is not fully in your control.

This does not mean that you stop desiring an accident free trip, or stop driving carefully to achieve it.  Also we should not get too upset if and when someone scratches your car due to careless driving because we do not get too attached to the “desire” of accident free trip.