Chapter 05, Verse 8
श्रीभगवानुवाच:
नैव किंचित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित्।
पश्यञ् श्रृण्वन् स्पृशञ् जिघ्रन्नश्नन् गच्छञ् स्वपन् श्वसन्॥5.8॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca:
naiva kincit karomiti yukto manyeta tattvavit।
pasyan srnvan sprsan jighrann asnan gacchan svapan svasan॥5.8॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
श्रीभगवानुवाच: (sri-bhagavan uvaca) |
The Supreme Lord said: This marks Krishna’s first direct
speech in the Bhagavad Gita, where he begins guiding
Arjuna. |
|
नैव (na-eva) |
Not at all |
|
किंचित् (kincit) |
Anything |
|
करोमि (karomi) |
I do |
|
इति (iti) |
Thus |
|
युक्तः (yuktah) |
One who is united (in yoga) |
|
मन्येत (manyeta) |
Thinks / considers |
|
तत्त्ववित् (tattvavit) |
Knower of the truth |
|
पश्यन् (pasyan) |
Seeing |
|
शृण्वन् (srnvan) |
Hearing |
|
स्पृशन् (sprsan) |
Touching |
|
जिघ्रन् (jighran) |
Smelling |
|
अश्नन् (asnan) |
Eating |
|
गच्छन् (gacchan) |
Going |
|
स्वपन् (svapan) |
Sleeping |
|
श्वसन् (svapan) |
Breathing |
Translation
“Similarly, a self-realized soul engaged within this material world can see, hear, touch, smell, eat, move, sleep and breathe, but he knows that he is not the doer, that everything is being done by the energy of the Lord, and that even his own body is moving, that he himself does nothing. And that he is distanced from them.”
Context of the Verse:
This is from the Karma Sannyasa Yog (Chapter 5 – The Yoga of Renunciation). Krishna is explaining the principle of renunciation to Arjuna. He differentiates between renunciation in action (abandoning actions) and renunciation in the mind (devoid of attachment).
This verse illustrates the Mental State of the Tattvavit – knower of the Truth. While apparently active in all the activities of the body, this man is perceiving the non-doer in actuality, who, realizing that it is the body and the senses which act, and not the Self, does not become attached.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Non-doership (Akartrtvam): The man of wisdom thinks of himself as the non-doer. They view all activities on the plane of Prakriti (Nature), and the Self remains untouched.
- Witness Consciousness: The Self, it is only a witness of all actions, such as seeing, hearing, touching, and does not function on its own account.
- Freedom through Knowledge: True freedom is not leaving the world, but knowing the difference between Self and bodily activities.
- Spiritual Maturity: The verse illustrates the state of mind of a perfected Karma Yogi – work done without attachment and without a sense of self.
Relevance to Arjuna:
Arjuna is a character in action and in a conflict of action – to fight or to renounce. Through this verse Krishna is instructing that spiritual realization does not mean that you have to renounce your duty, rather you have to act with detachment. He is leading Arjuna to supersede individual ego and act with the understanding that “I am not the doer.”
It is crucial for Arjuna, a warrior on the eve of battle, to learn that his obligations can be discharged without generating karma – provided they are discharged in right knowledge and detachment.
Explanation:
So Pure Devotee, he does everything only for serving Krishna. So, he gives up to Krishna all one’s activities of sense the census and the humour is applied to the Krishna and Krishna is the proprietor. So my senses having been acting, it has been engaged in the sense objects under the control of Krishna. I’m not doing. I’m not performing.
Chapter 05, Verse 09
प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्णन्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन्॥5.9॥
pralapan visrjan grhnan unmisan nimisan api।
indriyani indriyarthesu vartanta iti dharayan॥5.9॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
प्रलपन् (pralapan) |
Speaking |
|
विसृजन् (visrjan) |
Releasing, letting go |
|
गृह्णन् (grhnan) |
Grasping, accepting |
|
उन्मिषन् (unmisan) |
Opening (the eyes) |
|
निमिषन् (nimisan) |
Closing (the eyes) |
|
अपि (api) |
Even |
|
इन्द्रियाणि (indriyani) |
The senses |
|
इन्द्रियार्थेषु (indriyarthesu) |
In the sense-objects |
|
वर्तन्ते (vartanta) |
Are engaged, function |
|
इति (iti) |
Thus |
|
धारयन् (dharayan) |
Thinking, understanding, considering |
Translation
“Speaking, releasing and grasping with the hands, and opening and closing the eyes-conversing in such activities even, the wise man knows that it is but the senses seated in the objects Refraining from all Karma is not possible for an embodied being; its physical presence is itself the action of the senses.”
Context of the Verse:
This verse appears right after verse 8 that stressed on non-doer ship. Here, Lord Krishna explains further about the condition of the Tattvavit (Knower of Truth) which is that, comprehending all worldly actions of talking, taking, leaving or even natural activities like blinking are nothing but body and sense interaction, and not of Self.
He tells this in order to make Arjuna understand that the real renunciation is internal. Action doesn’t bind by itself if you know that Atma is not the one that does.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Non-attachment to Action: even daily actions (such as blinking, talking etc) are also Nature (Prakriti) and not Self’s ‘doing’ at all.
- Disidentification from the Body/Mind: The wise one is disidentified with bodily process, realizing that they are not the body or the senses.
- Self-Appreciated: The man who knows himself sees the doings and not the doer.
- Easy Living: You can live in the world with all that it has to offer and still not be enslaved-by learning to distinguish between the Self and the senses.
Relevance to Arjuna:
A battle is about to begin and Arjun is convinced that choosing to fight will lead to destruction on both sides. By this verse Krishna removes Arjuna’s fear of sin in action. The Action is without binding if performed after understanding that the Self does not act.
Arjuna’s case. If we do not act, we are not doing our duty, our Dharma. Krishna encourages his him with the idea that he can still fight with righteousness for its own sake, not urged by desire nor affected by ego.
Chapter 05, Verse 10
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः।
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा॥5.10॥
brahmanyadhaya karmani sangam tyaktva karoti Yah।
lipyate na sa papena padma-patram ivambhasa॥5.10॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
ब्रह्मणि (brahmani) |
In Brahman (the Supreme / divine reality) |
|
आधाय (adhaya) |
Placing, dedicating |
|
कर्माणि (karmani) |
Actions |
|
सङ्गम् (sangam) |
Attachment |
|
त्यक्त्वा (tyaktva) |
Renouncing, giving up |
|
करोति (karoti) |
Performs |
|
यः (Yah) |
Who |
|
लिप्यते (lipyate) |
Becomes tainted or affected |
|
न (na) |
Not |
|
सः (sah) |
He |
|
पापेन (papena) |
By sin |
|
पद्मपत्रम् (padma-patram) |
Lotus leaf |
|
इव (iva) |
Like |
|
अम्भसा (ambhasa) |
By water |
Translation
”One who works in devotion, who is a pure soul, and who controls his mind and senses is dear to everyone, and everyone is dear to him. Though always working, such a man is never entangled ˮ
Context of the Verse:
This verse is a continuation of Krishna’s teaching on Karma Yoga-Path of selfless action. He compares the spirit-wise person to the doing man. The spiritually wise person:
- Offers all actions unto Brahman (Supreme Reality)
- Acts without attachment to results
- Is not tainted by sin/papa.
Krishna himself uses the beautiful metaphor of the lotus leaf here: It grows in water, but is not wet by it. In the same way, the Karma Yogi lives and works in the world, but receives no Sinue or binding Karma.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Without attachment to action: Performing one’s duties without attachment does not entangle the soul.
- Surrender to the Divine (Brahman): Surrender to the Divine (Brahman) Offering all actions unto Brahman purifies the heart and insulates one from karmic reactions.
- Freedom from Sin: Although rightly acting in the world, the wise remain untouched by sin, for their actions are free from selfish desire and ego.
- Lotus Leaf Metaphor: This is a term for being detached and pure while in the world.
Relevance to Arjuna:
Indeed, the lessons are particularly meaningful to Arjuna, who is fearful of committing sinful acts by having to kill in battle – even when he is duty-bound to do so. Krishna assures him that, when he:
- Performs his duty selflessly,
- Without desire or ego,
- And he does this, doing it to the Highest,
Then he won’t be bound by the results – good or bad.
That gives Arjuna the freedom to act (wage war) without fear or guilt as long as he does so with spiritual knowledge and internal detachment.
Chapter 05, Verse 11
कायेन मनसा बुद्ध्या केवलैरिन्द्रियैरपि।
योगिनः कर्म कुर्वन्ति सङ्गं त्यक्त्वात्मशुद्धये॥5.11॥
kayena manasa buddhya kevalair indriyaih api।
yoginah karma kurvanti sangam tyaktvatma-suddhaye॥5.11॥
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
कायेन (kayena) |
With the body |
|
मनसा (manasa) |
With the mind |
|
बुद्ध्या (buddhya) |
With the intellect |
|
केवलैः (kevalaih) |
Pure, unmixed, untainted
|
|
इन्द्रियैः (indriyaih) |
With the senses |
|
अपि (api) |
Even |
|
योगिनः (yoginah) |
The yogis (those united with the Divine) |
|
कर्म (karma) |
Actions |
|
कुर्वन्ति (kurvanti) |
Perform |
|
सङ्गं (sangam) |
Attachment |
|
त्यक्त्वा (tyaktva) |
Renouncing |
|
आत्मशुद्धये (atma-suddhaye) |
For purification of the self (mind and heart) |
Translation
“Renouncing attachment, they perform action as a sacrifice to the body, the mind, the intellect, or the senses alone, for the purification of the self.”
Context of the Verse:
This verse further explains how a yogi does so and is a continuation of Lord Krishna’s teaching on Karma Yoga. Whereas any ordinary person acts out of their attachment and desire, the Yogi puts his body, mind, intellect, and senses to his own use-as a mechanism, not as individuals and without craving-for-benefits.
Service, purification of heart, without selfish objects, but as the means of purification of the heart -it is called Inner Purification (Chitta-Shuddhi) and is meant to prepare the aspirant for spiritual enlightenment.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Action Without Attachment: The yogi acts without concern for personal rewards.
- Purification by Karma Yoga: Actions performed with dispassion of the heart cleanse likes, dislikes and ego.
- Unified Use of Human Abilities: The human being – the system of the body, mind, intellect, and senses – is involved in the action, but without individual doer ship.
- Spiritual Discipline: Karma Yoga is a Sadhana for internal growth, given without personal condition.
Relevance to Arjuna:
The war to Arjuna appears to be unethical because he has no reason to justify its killing. Krishna is teaching him that:
- If he discharges his duty to the arms without being attached,
- With inner dedication and mindset,
- Then, too, even this act of apparent violence can become a form of self-purification.
Krishna is encouraging Arjuna to go beyond the emotional and egoic and take up the path of the yogi, which is realistic and possible in the midst of worldly activity.
Explanation:
So, you may say, what’s the reason of his action, his service, whatever he’s doing. After knowledge again, a manis in service and the purpose is purification. If the senses are not purified, you cannot realize what is God, what is the positive pleasure, positive bliss, unlimited, in the service of Lord. Mind body is purified similarly as seek person can only taste food if the body is purified from virus. So, this process, it is possible, it can be had by perfect material attachment, by stopping the material activity and thus becoming free after many, many a birth. So, such persons are, when he comes to Krishna or Krishna’s pure devotee, immediately he gets attraction, because he’s free from contamination, and a better and quick processes when one uses his mind, body, and senses in the service of Krishna, as it is stated here.
Whether the body’s or the mind’s intelligence acts by his intelligence, he is determining how to serve Krishna. His internal meditation is always on Krishna. “Hetu” You engage your senses while doing the service of Krishna, the senses are engaged in the service of Krishna, just like iron rod in fire when it is kept for some times you keep continuously then it acts like fire.
Now when the mind intelligence is senses, everything is taken in in service of the Supreme Lord. The That Lord is all spirit. So, our mind body senses also get spiritualized. And when our senses – mind and body are spiritually freed from the contamination of matter, then in that purified stage one can enjoy unlimited pleasure in serving Krishna, to which we are all hankering: uninterrupted pleasure is derived.
So therefore, in that sense Krishna is now saying what is the use of Yogi who is acting in full knowledge? The purpose is. Nothing except for ablution.