Skip to main content
← Chapter 5: The Yoga of Renunciation of Action

Verse 5.13

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

सर्वकर्माणि मनसा सन्न्यस्यास्ते सुखं वशी। नवद्वारे पुरे देही नैव कुर्वन्न कारयन्।।

Transliteration (IAST)

sarva-karmāṇi manasā sannyasyāste sukhaṁ vaśī। nava-dvāre pure dehī naiva kurvan na kārayan।।

Word-by-Word Meanings

सर्वकर्माणि-all actions
मनसा-mentally
सन्न्यस्य-having renounced
नवद्वारे-nine-gated
पुरे-in the city
देही-the embodied one

Translation

The self-controlled embodied being, mentally renouncing all actions, dwells happily in the nine-gated city (body), neither acting nor causing action.

Commentary

The body is metaphorically described as a city with nine gates (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth, and two lower openings). The Self dwells within as a witness, neither performing actions nor instigating them. This mental renunciation is the true sannyāsa.

Themes

atmanjnanakarma