Chapter 5, Verse 9
नैव किञ्चित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्ववित् | पश्यञ्शृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपञ्श्वसन् ॥8॥ प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्ण्न्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि | इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन् ॥9॥
naiva kiñcit karomīti yukto manyeta tattvavit | paśyañ śṛṇvan spṛśañ jighrann aśnan gacchan svapañ śvasan || 8 || pralapan visṛjan gṛhṇann unmiṣan nimiṣann api | indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣu vartanta iti dhārayan || 9 ||
"Remaining absorbed in the Self, the knower of Reality (tattva-vit) should think, 'I certainly do not do anything', even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping, breathing, speaking, releasing, holding, opening and closing the eyes—remembering that the organs function in relation to the objects of the organs."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 5.9 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 5.9 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
These verses describe the state of a 'Tattva-vit' (Knower of Truth). While the physical body and senses are engaged in various activities, the enlightened soul realizes that the true Self (Atman) is a non-doer. The actions are simply the 'Gunas' or the senses interacting with their respective objects. The pride of 'doership' is the main obstacle to spiritual liberation. By practicing this detachment, a Karma Yogi becomes an instrument of the Divine, seeing the physical functions of breathing, seeing, and even blinking as mechanical processes of the material energy, distinct from the silent witness within.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 5.9?
Remaining absorbed in the Self, the knower of Reality (tattva-vit) should think, 'I certainly do not do anything', even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping, breathing, speaking, releasing, holding, opening and closing the eyes—remembering that the organs function in relation to the objects of the organs.