Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 5 · Karma Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 5.9 प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्णन्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि
श्लोक 5.9
प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्णन्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि ।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन् ॥
pralapanvisṛjangṛhṇannunmiṣannimiṣannapi |
indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣu vartanta iti dhārayan ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
बोलते, त्यागते, ग्रहण करते तथा आँखें खोलते और बंद करते हुए भी वह यही समझता है कि इन्द्रियाँ ही अपने-अपने विषयों में बरत रही हैं।
Meaning in English
while speaking, letting go, grasping, and even opening and closing the eyes, holding firmly that it is only the senses moving among their objects.
Bhagavad Gita 5.9 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| प्रलपन् | pralapan | speaking |
| विसृजन् | visṛjan | releasing |
| गृह्णन् | gṛhṇan | grasping |
| उन्मिषन् | unmiṣan | opening the eyes |
| निमिषन् अपि | nimiṣan api | and closing them |
| इन्द्रियाणि | indriyāṇi | the senses |
| इन्द्रियार्थेषु | indriyārtheṣu | among the sense objects |
| वर्तन्ते | vartante | move |
| इति | iti | thus |
| धारयन् | dhārayan | holding firmly |
Explanation
Continuing the previous verse: even while speaking, letting go, taking hold, and opening or closing the eyes, the knower holds firmly to the understanding that it is only the senses moving among their objects. He does not identify with these movements as his own doing.
Together with 5.8, this list covers every kind of activity, voluntary and involuntary, from speech to the blink of an eye. Shankara sees here the discrimination between the Self and the instruments of action, which is the heart of knowledge. Ramanuja reads it as the self not regarding itself as the agent of what the senses do. Teachers in many traditions use these two verses as a practice of witnessing, watching activity without the claim I am doing this.
भावार्थ
बोलते, त्यागते, ग्रहण करते, आँखें खोलते और मूँदते हुए भी वह यही धारणा रखता है कि इन्द्रियाँ ही अपने-अपने विषयों में बरत रही हैं। वह स्वयं को इन क्रियाओं का कर्ता नहीं मानता, केवल साक्षी रहता है।
Living it today
When you catch yourself overreacting, pause and note: the senses met an object, a reaction rose. Seeing it that way creates room to choose.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 5.9?
Continuing the previous verse: even while speaking, letting go, taking hold, and opening or closing the eyes, the knower holds firmly to the understanding that it is only the senses moving among their objects. He does not identify with these movements as his own doing.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 5.9?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 5 (Karma Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 5.9 in daily life?
When you catch yourself overreacting, pause and note: the senses met an object, a reaction rose. Seeing it that way creates room to choose.
Reflected on verse 5.9?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.