Riya was a bright student preparing for her final exams in a fiercely competitive school. Her dream was to secure the top rank and earn a scholarship for college. She studied day and night, but as the exams approached, the pressure started taking a toll on her.
Her classmates talked constantly about marks and rankings, making Riya even more anxious. She feared failing her family’s expectations and worried about what others would think if she didn’t come first. Her studies became mechanical, and she found no joy in learning anymore.
One day, her teacher, Ms. Meera, noticed Riya’s stress and called her aside. Ms. Meera said, “Riya, imagine a runner in a race focusing only on winning. Do you think they’ll run their best if they keep looking over their shoulder at their competitors?”
Riya shook her head. “No, they’ll lose focus and stumble.”
Ms. Meera smiled. “Exactly. Your duty is to study, not to obsess over rankings. Enjoy the process of learning. The results will come naturally if you give your best effort without worrying about the outcome.”
Inspired, Riya shifted her focus to understanding concepts and enjoying her studies rather than competing with others. On exam day, she gave her best without overthinking. The results came later, and though she didn’t rank first, she scored high enough for the scholarship. Most importantly, she felt happy and proud of her efforts.
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Conclusion:
This story reflects the essence of the shloka:
కర్మణ్యేవాధికారస్తే మా ఫలేషు కదాచన ।
మా కర్మఫలహేతుర్భూః మా తే సంగోఽస్త్వకర్మణి
"Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana,
Ma karma-phala-hetur-bhur ma te sango'stv-akarmani.” - Karma Yoga, Verse No: 47
"You have the right to perform your duties but not to the fruits of your actions. Do not act with an eye on the results, nor let fear of failure stop you." The lesson for Riya—and for all of us—is to approach life’s challenges with dedication and focus, free from the stress of comparison and fear of judgment. True success lies in giving your best effort with a calm mind.
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