Bhagavad Gita · 3.6 · Path of Selfless Service·6 of 43
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्।इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥
karmendriyāṇi sanyamya ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā mithyāchāraḥ sa uchyate
Sanskrit recitation
Why act at all · 3.1–3.9 · Teaching
Translation
He who, restraining the organs of action, sits thinking of the sense-objects in his mind, he of deluded understanding is called a hypocrite.
Meaning
The five organs of action, Karma Indriyas, are Vak (organ of speech), Pani (hands), Padam (feet), Upastha (genitals) and Guda (anus). They are born of the Rajasic portion of the five Tanmatras or subtle elements Vak from the Akasa Tanmatra (ether), Pani from the Vayu Tanmatra (air), Padam from the Agni Tanmatra (fire), Upastha from the Apas Tanmatra (water), and Guda from the Prithivi Tanmatra (earth). That man who, restraining the organs of action, sits revolving in his mind thoughts regarding the objects of the senses is a man of sinful conduct. He is selfdeluded. He is a veritable hypocrite.The organs of action must be controlled. The thoughts should also be controlled. The mind should be firmly fixed on the Lord. Only then will you become a true Yogi. Only then will you attain to Selfrealisation.
After Swami Sivananda
Why act at all· 3.1–3.9→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 3.1Arjuna said: If Thou thinkest that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O Kesava, doest Thou ask me to engage in this terrible action?
- 3.2With this seemingly perplexing speech, you seem to be confusing my understanding; therefore, tell me one certain way by which I may attain bliss.
- 3.3The Blessed Lord said, "In this world, there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless one: the path of knowledge of the Sankhyas and the path of action of the Yogins."
- 3.4Man does not reach actionlessness by not performing actions; nor does he attain perfection by mere renunciation.
- 3.5Verily, no one can remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is made to act helplessly, indeed, by the qualities born of Nature.
3.6He who, restraining the organs of action, sits thinking of the sense-objects in his mind, he of deluded understanding is called a hypocrite.
- 3.7But whoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga with the organs of action, without attachment, he excels.
- 3.8Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction.
- 3.9The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do thou, therefore, O son of Kunti (Arjuna), perform actions for that sake alone, free from attachment.
Word-by-word→
- saḥ
- they
- yaḥ
- who
- āste
- remain
- smaran
- to remember
- manasā
- in the mind
- uchyate
- are called
- sanyamya
- restrain
- indriya-arthān
- sense objects
- vimūḍha-ātmā
- the deluded
- karma-indriyāṇi
- the organs of action
- mithyā-āchāraḥ
- hypocrite
Related verses
- 3.28But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities…
- 3.43Thus, knowing Him who is superior to the intellect and restraining the self by the Self,…
- 18.52Dwelling in solitude, eating sparingly, with speech, body, and mind subdued, always…
- 1.23For I desire to observe those who are assembled here to fight, wishing to please in battle…