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The phrase “ma phaleshu kadachana” comes from the Bhagavad Gita 2.47:

Sanskrit

karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana

Translation

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits (results) of your actions.”

Meaning

• Do your duty diligently.

• Don’t attach your happiness or anxiety to outcomes.

• Focus on action itself, not reward, gain, or recognition.

• This is the essence of Karma Yoga, the yoga of selfless action.

Example

• A farmer plants seeds and tends the field.

• He does everything correctly (watering, fertilizing), but the harvest may vary due to weather or pests.

• The farmer’s peace comes from faithful effort, not obsessing over yield.

This concept also resonates with Stoic thinking — much like the “hope handcuffed to fear” idea: focus on what you can control (your actions), not what you can’t (results).

If you want, I can give a 1‑sentence TL;DR version of “ma phaleshu kadachana” for easy recall.