In Bhagavad Gita 13.9, Krishna continues: dispassion toward sense objects, absence of ego, and reflection on the suffering and evils of birth, death, old age and disease.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यम्
अनहङ्कार एव च
जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिद्
उःखदोषानुदर्शनम् ॥ १३-९ ॥
indriyārtheṣu vairāgyam
anahaṅkāra eva ca
janmamṛtyujarāvyādhid
uḥkhadoṣānudarśanam
English transliteration indriyaartheshu vairaagyam
anahankaara eva cha
janmamrityujaraavyaadhid
uhkhadoshaanudarshanam ॥ 13.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
dispassion toward the objects of the senses, and absence of ego; reflection on the pain and evil of birth, death, old age and disease,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इन्द्रियार्थेषु indriyārtheṣu | toward the objects of the senses indriya (senses) + artheṣu (objects) |
| वैराग्यम् vairāgyam | dispassion |
| अनहङ्कारः anahaṅkāraḥ | absence of ego |
| एव eva | also |
| च ca | and |
| जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखदोषानुदर्शनम् janmamṛtyujarāvyādhiduḥkhadoṣānudarśanam | reflection on the pain and evil of birth, death, old age and disease janma (birth) + mṛtyu (death) + jarā (old age) + vyādhi (disease) + duḥkha (pain) + doṣa (evil) + anudarśanam (reflection) |
Word-wise Chanting
- in–dri–yār–the–ṣu vai–rāg–yam– 8 syllables in-dri-yaar-the-shu vai-raag-yam-
- a–na–haṅ–kā–ra e–va ca | 8 syllables a-na-han-kaa-ra e-va cha
- jan–ma–mṛt–yu–ja–rāv–yā–dhid– 8 syllables jan-ma-mrit-yu-ja-raav-yaa-dhid-
- uḥ–kha–do–ṣā–nu–dar–śa–nam || 13-9 8 syllables uh-kha-do-shaa-nu-dar-sha-nam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 13 Verse 9
Context
Krishna continues listing the qualities of knowledge (13.8–13.12).
Meaning
Vairāgya, dispassion toward sense pleasures, and anahaṅkāra, freedom from egoism, are marks of knowledge. So is anudarśana, steady reflection on the facts of birth, death, ageing and illness and the suffering they bring. This was the reflection that set the Buddha on his path.
Facing the realities of life honestly is not pessimism. It loosens attachment to the temporary and turns the mind toward the eternal.
In Practice
Reflect calmly for a few minutes on ageing and illness. Let the reflection strengthen your commitment to what is lasting.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (The Field and the Knower of the Field). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.