Even while speaking, releasing, taking, opening, and closing the eyes, the wise know: the senses move among their objects.
— Krishna
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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. Hover 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
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It shifts attention from personal ownership of action to clear witnessing of bodily processes.
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
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna is teaching 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
Why this verse still matters
Your phone lights up, your mouth answers, your hand reaches for the message. This verse asks you to notice the movement before you call it 'me.'
The takeaway
“You can stay unentangled even while life keeps moving through you.”
It shifts attention from personal ownership of action to clear witnessing of bodily processes.
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
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna is teaching 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.
Why this verse still matters
Your phone lights up, your mouth answers, your hand reaches for the message. This verse asks you to notice the movement before you call it 'me.'
“You can stay unentangled even while life keeps moving through you.”
Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), indriya (19 verses)