"न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥"


(The soul is neither born, nor does it ever die; nor having once existed, does it cease to be. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and ancient. It is not slain when the body is slain.) —
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 20



The Illusion of Purpose: Why Are We Really Seeking? We’ve been told since childhood that life is about finding a purpose — a grand reason for existence that gives meaning to our actions. Society romanticizes the idea of discovering a higher purpose as the ultimate goal of life. Careers are chosen, relationships are pursued, and milestones are celebrated — all in the name of "purpose." But what if this relentless chase for meaning is the very source of our suffering?



The
Bhagavad Gita offers a radical perspective: the problem isn’t the absence of purpose — it’s the attachment to the idea that purpose is necessary for fulfillment. Krishna’s wisdom to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra goes beyond the material; it challenges the very foundation of why we seek.



Let’s explore how the Gita dismantles the myth of purpose and why detachment might just be the key to inner peace.



1. Seeking Is Rooted in Attachment — And Attachment Breeds Suffering
"यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता॥"


(When, like a tortoise drawing in its limbs, one withdraws the senses from sense objects, his wisdom becomes steady.) —
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 58



The search for purpose often stems from a craving for identity and control. We believe that if we have a purpose, life will feel more meaningful and our existence will be justified. This attachment to purpose creates a cycle of expectation and disappointment. When outcomes don’t meet expectations, suffering arises. Krishna teaches that attachment to outcomes — whether success, recognition, or validation — binds us to suffering. Fulfillment, according to the Gita, comes from detachment — from performing actions without obsessing over their results.



2. Purpose Is Fleeting — Dharma Is Eternal
"स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः॥"


(It is better to perish in one’s own dharma than to follow the path of another.) —
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 35



Purpose is often tied to external validation — career success, relationships, or legacy. But the Gita proposes that what truly matters is not chasing a grand purpose but fulfilling one’s
dharma — the inner duty aligned with one’s true nature. Purpose is influenced by societal norms and personal ambition, which can change over time. Dharma, however, is stable and eternal because it reflects one’s true self. Aligning with one’s dharma brings peace, even when external success is absent. The Gita encourages focusing on authenticity rather than chasing an external goal.



3. The Ego Fuels the Illusion of Purpose
"अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः।
मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः॥"


(Overcome by ego, strength, arrogance, lust, and anger, they despise Me in their own bodies and in others.) —
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, Verse 18



The ego thrives on the idea of being special and significant. It convinces us that we need a grand purpose to justify our existence. This leads to a constant state of seeking — seeking recognition, significance, and permanence. But Krishna teaches that the ego is the root of suffering, as it creates separation between you and the present moment. The ego makes purpose about personal achievement rather than collective harmony. The more you attach yourself to this illusion of significance, the more you suffer when reality doesn’t align with those expectations. The Gita advises dissolving the ego by shifting focus from outcomes to actions.



4. Fulfillment Comes from Action, Not Outcome
"योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥"


(Perform your duty, O Arjuna, abandoning attachment, and remaining indifferent to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.) —
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 48



Krishna emphasizes that real peace comes not from the achievement of a goal but from the state of mind while pursuing it. Fulfillment comes from being present in the process, not from achieving an outcome. The pursuit of purpose often creates anxiety because it ties happiness to a future event. When that future event is delayed or unattained, dissatisfaction follows. The Gita teaches that the highest state of being is one where action is performed wholeheartedly without attachment to the result. This detachment allows for inner peace, even when outcomes are unpredictable.



5. Let Go of the Illusion — Freedom Lies in Surrender
"तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयः॥"


(Therefore, always remember Me and fight. With your mind and intellect surrendered to Me, you will surely come to Me.) —
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 8, Verse 7



The need for purpose is rooted in the desire for control. We seek purpose because we want life to follow a predictable and meaningful path. But Krishna’s teachings suggest that true freedom comes from surrender — not passive resignation, but trust in the unfolding of life. When you surrender to the flow of existence, you become free from the bondage of expectations. Surrender doesn’t mean giving up; it means trusting that your actions, when performed with sincerity and detachment, will lead to peace regardless of the outcome. The Gita encourages letting go of the need to define your purpose and instead allowing life to reveal it through experience.



Purpose or Presence? The Bhagavad Gita doesn’t deny the importance of action — it questions the need for a rigid, pre-defined purpose behind it. Purpose creates attachment, and attachment breeds suffering. Krishna’s teaching isn’t about abandoning life — it’s about living fully, without the burden of expectation.



Purpose, as we often define it, is an illusion created by the mind’s need for control and identity. True peace lies not in discovering a grand reason for existence but in the freedom that comes from detachment. Perhaps the question isn’t “What’s my purpose?” but “How present can I be while living it?”



Because maybe… the purpose was never about finding something. Maybe it was about being fully alive in the search itself.