Verse 17.6
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
कर्शयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः | मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ||६||
Transliteration (IAST)
karśayantaḥ śarīra-sthaṁ bhūta-grāmam acetasaḥ | māṁ caivāntaḥ-śarīra-sthaṁ tān viddhy āsura-niścayān ||6||
Word-by-Word Meanings
karśayantaḥ-torturing/emaciated
śarīra-stham-dwelling in the body
bhūta-grāmam-the aggregate of elements
acetasaḥ-senseless/without understanding
mām-Me (the Lord)
antaḥ-śarīra-stham-dwelling within the body
āsura-niścayān-of demoniac resolve
Translation
Senselessly torturing the elements of the body and also Me who dwells within - know them to be of demoniac resolve.
Commentary
Krishna declares that extreme self-mortification is actually violence against the divine presence within. Shankaracharya emphasizes that the Lord as the inner Self (antaryāmin) is also harmed by such practices. Ramanuja notes that this verse establishes the body as a sacred vessel not to be abused, connecting physical well-being to spiritual practice.
Themes
dharmaatman