How does the karma-marga encourage people to perform their duties?

In Hinduism, the karma-marga (the "path of action" or "path of duties") encourages individuals to perform their social and ritual obligations by emphasizing the concept of disinterested action.12

Rather than advocating for the abandonment of worldly responsibilities, this path teaches that individuals should fulfill their duties—which are determined by their specific caste, stage of life, and social role—without attachment to the personal consequences or fruits of their labor. By performing these prescribed tasks (dharma) with a spirit of equanimity, and without concern for pleasure, pain, profit, or loss, an individual can engage fully in the world while remaining detached from it.312

The Bhagavadgita serves as a foundational text for this teaching, arguing that it is not the actions themselves that bind a person to the cycle of rebirth, but rather the selfish intentions behind them. By acting in this selfless manner, individuals contribute to the maintenance of the cosmic and social order while simultaneously working toward their own spiritual release (moksha). This approach provides a moral code for those living in the world, bridging the gap between daily life and the pursuit of emancipation.21