There are many who would claim the credit for anything good that occurs around them, but would immediately find out a scapegoat for anything that goes wrong. Such men project themselves everywhere during acquisition of wealth, construction of buildings, setting up of large organisations, etc. This is like us Indians, who contend that ancient India possessed all kinds of physical and intellectual prowess, but would involve Destiny or "Cyclic changes in society" to explain away the present-day poverty and decadence in the society.
A story quoted often in enlightened circles will be very appropriate here. Many years back, the city of Santipur was ruled by a King who was scholarly and philosophical and endowed with all kinds of virtues. He was well known for his charity and hospitality. There was great peace in the kingdom, and people were all happy and praised the King.
Once the King went out hunting into the forests. He entered the forest mounted on his horse with his followers. Unfortunately, his bow, that was ready and strung with an arrow, by mistake released the arrow that killed a cow grazing in the forest. Now killing a cow in his kingdom was a great offence. The cow lay on the ground writhing and dead. The King was shocked and was full of remorse. However, being scholarly and intelligent, he found out an alibi. He agreed to himself that it was his hand that was responsible for this dastardly act and, technically, God Indra presides over the functions of these organs. He was convinced that the mistake had occurred on the part of Indra and was not his personal mistake.
Now the wise people of the town as well as the holy men and the priests came to know of the incident and, as was the custom, suggested certain religious ceremonies for expiation. The King heard the entreaties and said, "You all wise men are still indeed ignorant people. It is God Indra who is responsible for this crime, not me."
Of course, this created its repercussions that finally reached the ears of God Indra himself. The God thought to himself that if people on earth start passing their responsibilities to others, a time will be reached when God would be condemned for all evil that goes around. Indra assumed the form of a very old man — toothless, with hollowed cheeks, shrivelled skin on the body all loose, back bent as if from incapacity to carry on the load, the chest as if bowing down in humility, and feet wobbling. He walked into the presence of the King as the King was instructing the gardeners. In fact, the garden was in bloom with lush green foliage, fragrant flowers and juicy fruits hanging all around.
Indra in disguise asked the King, "Sir, to whom does this beautiful garden belong? How beautiful are the trees and flowers." The King, pleased and inflated in his ego, said, "This is mine, I am the owner, I instruct my men to develop this land." Indra continued, "Sir, to whom does the yonder palace belong?" The King continued his bragging, "Of course it is mine. I got it constructed five years back." Indra smiled inwardly and added, "Yes, O King! All this is yours, just as much as the eyes, the ears, the hands, the feet are yours."
The King was slightly taken aback and said, "Yes, why do you say so?"
Thereupon Indra assumed his true form and with anger said, "The sin of killing the cow should also land on your shoulders." Saying so, Indra disappeared. The King was dumbfounded. He never realised that Indra would teach him a lesson thus. He called the people and the priests and admitted his crime.
People who dedicate some actions to God and hold on to the others do not enter into the spirit of the Gita injunction:
"Giving up all attachments to the fruits of one's action, one who is ever satisfied and without any needs, even though such a one is engaged in action, he does not really do anything."