कर्म

Karma simply means action, doing something. In the Gita the word is as plain as that, but its range is wider than the usual understanding. Verse 3.5 says that no one remains even for a moment without karma, because the qualities born of nature keep making everyone act. In this sense breathing, thinking, wanting and fearing all come within karma, not only the work of hands and feet.

From this follows a basic conclusion of the Gita: karma cannot be given up entirely. Verse 3.4 says that merely not beginning actions does not bring a person to naiṣkarmya, and verse 3.8 says that without action even the journey of the body would not be accomplished. So the question stops being whether to act or not; it becomes in what manner to act.

Common misreading: taking karma to mean only outward work, or only fate. In the Gita karma is whatever we do and take part in, and its binding lies not in its amount but in the grip attached to it.

Better sense: every activity we carry out, outer and inner, which we have to learn to do well.

To read further, see the topic Can We Simply Stop Acting?.