Sacred verse

Bhagavad Gita 3.34BG 3.34 · Chapter 3, Verse 34

Karma Yoga · Verse 34

A core teaching · grounding in mood · easy to enter

Freedom begins when attraction and aversion stop steering action.

The verse
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ

Attachment and aversion sit in every sense-object. Do not come under their power, for they are your enemies on the path.

Krishna
Bhagavad Gita · 3.34
Hindi · हिन्दी
इन्द्रियइन्द्रियके अर्थमें प्रत्येक इन्द्रियके प्रत्येक विषयमें मनुष्यके राग और द्वेष व्यवस्थासे अनुकूलता और प्रतिकूलताको लेकर स्थित हैं । मनुष्यको उन दोनोंके वशमें नहीं होना चाहिये क्योंकि वे दोनों ही इसके पारमार्थिक मार्गमें विघ्न डालनेवाले शत्रु हैं ॥
Word by word

The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.

इन्द्रियस्य-इन्द्रियस्य-अर्थेin each sense's objectराग-द्वेषौattachment and aversionव्यवस्थितौare establishedतयोःof those twonotवशम्under the powerआगच्छेत्one should comeतौthose twoहिindeedअस्यfor this oneपरिपन्थिनौthe two enemies on the path

Read literallyin each sense's object · attachment and aversion · are established · of those two · not · under the power · one should come · those two · indeed · for this one · the two enemies on the path

Understanding the verse

It shifts attention from impulse-driven reaction to conscious choice before action.

Built onindriya19ragadveshakarma11
In plain words

What this verse means

Craving and dislike appear in every sense experience. Do not let either one control your choices, because both block the path forward.

On the battlefield

Context & commentary

On the battlefield, Arjuna is being taught how to act without being dragged around by inner reactions. Krishna names the two forces that distort judgment: attraction and aversion. Both can sabotage duty before a weapon is even lifted.

In your life

Why this verse still matters

You open a message and feel the instant urge to defend yourself, or to ignore it completely. That split-second pull is exactly what this verse warns against.

The takeaway

You are not required to obey every pull and push inside you.

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Krishna guiding Arjuna toward selfless action — Karma Yoga
Chapter 3 · The Yoga of Action
Karma Yoga
43 verses
Read all verses in this chapter →

Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), indriya (19 verses), self mastery (16 verses)

Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 3.34 mean?

Craving and dislike appear in every sense experience. Do not let either one control your choices, because both block the path forward.

Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.34?

Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).

Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 3.34?

Verse 34 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.

Why does Bhagavad Gita 3.34 matter today?

You open a message and feel the instant urge to defend yourself, or to ignore it completely. That split-second pull is exactly what this verse warns against.

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