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Verse 5.27

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवोः। प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ।।

Transliteration (IAST)

sparśān kṛtvā bahir bāhyāṁś cakṣuś caivāntare bhruvoḥ। prāṇāpānau samau kṛtvā nāsābhyantara-cāriṇau।।

Word-by-Word Meanings

स्पर्शान्-sense contacts
बहिः-outside
चक्षुः-gaze
भ्रुवोः अन्तरे-between the eyebrows
प्राणापानौ-outgoing and incoming breaths
समौ-equal/balanced

Translation

Shutting out external sense contacts, fixing the gaze between the eyebrows, equalizing the outgoing and incoming breaths flowing within the nostrils -

Commentary

Verses 5.27-28 form a single sentence describing the technique of meditation. Here Krishna introduces prāṇāyāma and pratyāhāra - withdrawal of senses from external objects, concentration of gaze at the ājñā center, and regulation of breath. These are practical instructions for dhyāna yoga.

Themes

yogamokshaatman