Karma Yoga in Bhagavad Gita relates to practice of nishkama karma yoga which simply means, not attaching self to fruits of karma performed. On path of pure spirituality, for a spiritual traveler indulgence in karma should always be nishkama karma way of life. For a faster spiritual progress we must all the time work like a trustee, caretaker with the belief that everything belonged to god Almighty and we were only a doer doing his bidding all the time.
But in present times indulgence in nishkama karma yoga alone does not beget desired results. Our indulgence in jnana yoga (path of absolute wisdom) is also necessitated to reach state of enlightenment, self realization, god realization.
Indulging in nishkama karma yoga is a shortcut path to surrender to God Almighty. As per Bhagavad Gita we are primarily a spiritual being, a spirit manifesting human form. As consciousness we manifest human form to work out our karma, cleanse self of dross impurities within. All the work indulged by human form was squarely meant for soul atman within. For this very reason the fruits of karma always belonged to our true inner self, soul atman existing in heart.
Practice of karma yoga followed by jnana yoga is an absolute must in present times to travel spiritual path successfully. In the last about 150 years amongst 7 billion people existing world over only Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharshi Ramana finally succeeded in reaching God in their lifetime. Initially Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa started in pursuit of God via path of bhakti yoga and karma yoga alone. Finding that God could not be reached in absence of jnana yoga, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa started his indulgence in jnana yoga also.
Maharshi Ramana started his pursuit of God directly via path of jnana yoga. Self enquiry, path of Neti (not this, not this) form path of jnana yoga. The darkness of karma can be removed only by indulgence in jnana wisdom contained in scriptures of different religions of world. On path of pure spirituality, religious manuscripts are of no use. Our indulgence in teachings of Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita and also Upanishads (independent the spiritual treatises) is necessitated.
Total surrender to God via path of karma yoga worked wonders in earlier times. But in present Kali Yuga (Dark Age) to reach the hidden underlying meaning of sacred texts our indulgence in jnana yoga is an absolute must. Simply by total surrender to God one can never reach God. Total demolition of ego, overpowering five senses and mind demand our mastering teachings of Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita. To eradicate karma forever, indulgence in nishkama karma yoga is a must. To reach god, become pure soul atman karma has to be negated to zero.
Nishkama karma yoga is purely a spiritual precept. Indulgence in nishkama karma yoga is necessitated only for travelers of spiritual path, never religious (those indulging in rituals).
JRD Tata, scion of Tata empire and King Janaka (father of Sita in Ramayana), both were karma yogis par excellence, indulging in nishkama karma way of life all the time.
JRD Tata never ever considered Tata Empire as ones own. He always worked like a trustee, taking care things assigned to him by god. Welfare of workers and entire mankind was the only motto of JRD Tata. Not for a single moment in life JRD Tata gave importance to money. For him money and wealth was only a means to an end. Welfare of society and community at large is what mattered.
King Janaka indulged in affairs of his kingdom with a detached attitude (not attaching self to fruits of karma performed). In this way he successfully completed all affairs of his kingdom and side-by-side pursuing his spiritual side. King Janaka never let affairs of his kingdom come in path of spirituality. King Janaka always lived like a Lotus in a pond.
Nishkama karma yoga can be indulged by any human being who was prepared to demolish ego in totality. Demolition of ego can be successfully exercised not only by seekers, spiritual travelers but also earthly men life JRD Tata and King Janaka. The benefits of indulgence in nishkama karma yoga are immense. People who cared for mankind always indulged in karma nishkama karma way of life. For such people money and wealth was secondary.
The teachings of Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita detailed everything about nishkama karma yoga, what it means and how to indulge in it.