यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन ।
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे अर्जुन जो मनुष्य मनसे इन्द्रियोंपर नियन्त्रण करके आसक्तिरहित होकर निष्काम भावसे समस्त इन्द्रियोंके द्वारा कर्मयोगका आचरण करता है, वही श्रेष्ठ है ॥
English
Arjuna, the one who restrains the senses with the mind and begins karma yoga without attachment is श्रेष्ठ.
What this verse means
The best way to act is to keep the senses under the mind's control and do your work without attachment.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen between two armies. Krishna has already shown that action cannot be avoided and hypocrisy is useless. Now he gives the better method: control the senses, act through the body, and stay free of craving.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the message, make the apology, or walk out of the room. The pull to react is strong, but the cleaner move is to steady the mind first and act without grabbing for the result.
The takeaway
You do not need to be dragged around by impulse to be effective.
Word-by-word translation
यः (who) / तु (indeed) / इन्द्रियाणि (the senses) / मनसा (with the mind) / नियम्य (having restrained) / आरभते (begins) / अर्जुन (Arjuna) / कर्मेन्द्रियैः (with the organs of action) / कर्मयोगम् (karma yoga) / असक्तः (unattached) / सः (he) / विशिष्यते (is श्रेष्ठ, excels)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3: Karma Yoga — The Yoga of Action, which contains 43 verses.
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), manas (49 verses), indriya nigraha (14 verses)