यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः | तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ||९||
yajñārthāt karmaṇo'nyatra loko'yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samāchara
Translation
Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.
Interpretation
The principle of Yajna (sacrifice): action done for the divine becomes liberation; action done for the ego becomes bondage. The same external action can be either liberating or binding depending on the inner orientation. This is the secret of karma yoga: everything done as an offering to the divine is yajna; everything done for personal gain binds.