Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 5 · Karma Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 5.8 नैव किञ्चित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत
श्लोक 5.8
नैव किञ्चित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित् ।
पश्यञ्शृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपञ्श्वसन् ॥
naiva kiñcitkaromīti yukto manyeta tattvavit |
paśyañśṛṇvanspṛśañjighrannaśnangacchansvapañśvasan ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
तत्त्व को जानने वाला योगी देखते, सुनते, छूते, सूँघते, खाते, चलते, सोते और साँस लेते हुए भी यही मानता है कि 'मैं कुछ भी नहीं करता',
Meaning in English
The yogi who knows the truth thinks, 'I do nothing at all,' even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, walking, sleeping and breathing,
Bhagavad Gita 5.8 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| न एव | na eva | not at all |
| किञ्चित् | kiñcit | anything |
| करोमि | karomi | I do |
| इति | iti | thus |
| युक्तः | yuktaḥ | the one in yoga |
| मन्येत | manyeta | should think |
| तत्त्ववित् | tattva-vit | knower of the truth |
| पश्यन् | paśyan | seeing |
| शृण्वन् | śṛṇvan | hearing |
| स्पृशन् | spṛśan | touching |
| जिघ्रन् | jighran | smelling |
| अश्नन् | aśnan | eating |
| गच्छन् | gacchan | walking |
| स्वपन् | svapan | sleeping |
| श्वसन् | śvasan | breathing |
Explanation
The one established in yoga, who knows the truth, thinks: I do nothing at all. He holds this understanding even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, walking, sleeping and breathing. The list of everyday activities continues into the next verse.
This verse and the next form one sentence. Krishna is describing how the knower relates to the body's activity: the functions go on, but the sense of being the doer has fallen away. Shankara takes this as the direct insight that the Self is actionless witness. Ramanuja reads it as the self recognising that its actions arise through the body and senses under the Lord's direction, so it claims no independent agency. The verse is not a licence for carelessness; it describes a vision that frees action from ego.
भावार्थ
तत्त्व को जानने वाला योगी देखते, सुनते, छूते, सूँघते, खाते, चलते, सोते और साँस लेते हुए भी यही मानता है कि मैं कुछ भी नहीं करता। शरीर के सब काम चलते रहते हैं, पर उसमें कर्तापन का भाव नहीं रहता।
Living it today
In routine moments like walking or eating, try watching the body act on its own; it loosens the heavy sense that everything depends on you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 5.8?
The one established in yoga, who knows the truth, thinks: I do nothing at all. He holds this understanding even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, walking, sleeping and breathing. The list of everyday activities continues into the next verse.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 5.8?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 5 (Karma Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 5.8 in daily life?
In routine moments like walking or eating, try watching the body act on its own; it loosens the heavy sense that everything depends on you.
Reflected on verse 5.8?
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