Its modern advocates press upon achieving success following the principles of Yoga,[2] and stepping beyond personal goals and agendas while pursuing any action over greater good,[3][4][5] which has become well known since it is the central message of the Bhagavad Gita.
[7] The opposite of Sakama Karma (action with desire),[8] Nishkama Karma has been variously explained as 'Duty for duty's sake'[9] and as 'Detached Involvement', which is neither negative attitude nor indifference; and has today found many advocates in the modern business area where the emphasis has shifted to ethical business practices adhering to intrinsic human values and reducing stress at the workplace.
[10][11] Another aspect that differentiates it from Sakama or selfish action, is that while the former is guided by inspiration, the latter is all about motivation, and that makes the central difference in its results, for example, Sakama Karma might lead to excessive work pressure and workaholism as it aims at success, and hence creates more chances of physical and psychological burnouts.
— Verse 47, Chapter 2-Samkhya theory and Yoga practise, The Bhagavadgita[19][20] Fixed in yoga, do thy work, O Winner of wealth (Arjuna), abandoning attachment, with an even mind in success and failure, for evenness of mind is called yoga— Verse 2.48[21]
With the body, with the mind, with the intellect, even merely with the senses, the Yogis perform action toward self-purification, having abandoned attachment.