Even while speaking, releasing, taking, opening, and closing the eyes, the wise know: the senses move among their objects.
— Krishna
❋
Bhagavad Gita · 5.9
Hindi · हिन्दी
तत्त्वको जाननेवाला सांख्ययोगी देखता, सुनता, छूता, सूँघता, खाता, चलता, ग्रहण करता, बोलता, मलमूत्र का त्याग करता, सोता हुआ, श्वास लेता तथा आँखें खोलता और मूँदता हुआ भी सम्पूर्ण इन्द्रियाँ इन्द्रियोंके विषयोंमें बरत रही हैं ऐसा समझकर मैं स्वयं कुछ भी नहीं करता हूँ ऐसा माने ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
प्रलपन्speakingविसृजन्releasingगृह्णन्takingउन्मिषन्opening the eyesनिमिषन्closing the eyesअपिevenइन्द्रियाणिthe sensesइन्द्रियार्थेषुamong sense-objectsवर्तन्तेmoveइतिthusधारयन्holding in mind
Read literallyspeaking · releasing · taking · opening the eyes · closing the eyes · even · the senses · among sense-objects · move · thus · holding in mind
Understanding the verse
✦
Speaking, taking, opening and shutting the eyes, the wise see senses moving among their objects.
A person who knows the truth understands that actions are happening through the senses, not through a separate doer.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna teaches Arjuna how a wise person acts without inner bondage. After saying the self is not the doer, he adds that speaking, taking, blinking, and every bodily act belong to the senses moving among their objects.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A grandmother at a long wedding greets guests, eats, laughs and blesses the couple without counting herself the centre of any of it. Krishna's wise person sees the senses doing their work among their objects.
The takeaway
“You can stay unentangled even while life keeps moving through you.”
Explore related themes: vairagya(51 verses), indriya(19 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 5.9 mean?
A person who knows the truth understands that actions are happening through the senses, not through a separate doer.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 5.9?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Sanyasa Yoga" (The Yoga of Renunciation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 5.9?
Verse 9 sits in Chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Sanyasa Yoga, "The Yoga of Renunciation". The chapter has 29 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 5.9 matter today?
A grandmother at a long wedding greets guests, eats, laughs and blesses the couple without counting herself the centre of any of it. Krishna's wise person sees the senses doing their work among their objects.
Speaking, taking, opening and shutting the eyes, the wise see senses moving among their objects.
What this verse means
A person who knows the truth understands that actions are happening through the senses, not through a separate doer.
Context & commentary
Krishna teaches Arjuna how a wise person acts without inner bondage. After saying the self is not the doer, he adds that speaking, taking, blinking, and every bodily act belong to the senses moving among their objects.
What it looks like today
A grandmother at a long wedding greets guests, eats, laughs and blesses the couple without counting herself the centre of any of it. Krishna's wise person sees the senses doing their work among their objects.
“You can stay unentangled even while life keeps moving through you.”
Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), indriya (19 verses)