In Bhagavad Gita 15.8, Krishna says when the lord of the body acquires a body and when it leaves one, it takes the mind and senses with it, as the wind carries scents from their source.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
शरीरं यदवाप्नोति
यच्चाप्युत्क्रामतीश्वरः
गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति
वायुर्गन्धानिवाशयात् ॥ १५-८ ॥
śarīraṃ yadavāpnoti
yaccāpyutkrāmatīśvaraḥ
gṛhītvaitāni saṃyāti
vāyurgandhānivāśayāt
English transliteration shareeram yadavaapnoti
yachchaapyutkraamateeshvarah
griheetvaitaani samyaati
vaayurgandhaanivaashayaat ॥ 15.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When the lord of the body acquires a body, and also when it leaves one, it takes these along and goes, as the wind carries fragrances from their source.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| शरीरम् śarīram | body |
| यत् yat | when |
| अवाप्नोति avāpnoti | acquires |
| यत् yat | when |
| च ca | and |
| अपि api | also |
| उत्क्रामति utkrāmati | leaves |
| ईश्वरः īśvaraḥ | the lord |
| गृहीत्वा gṛhītvā | taking |
| एतानि etāni | these |
| संयाति saṃyāti | goes |
| वायुः vāyuḥ | the wind |
| गन्धान् gandhān | fragrances |
| इव iva | as |
| आशयात् āśayāt | from their source |
Word-wise Chanting
- śa–rī–raṃ ya–da–vāp–no–ti 8 syllables sha-ree-ram ya-da-vaap-no-ti
- yac–cāp–yut–krā–ma–tīś–va–raḥ | 8 syllables yach-chaap-yut-kraa-ma-teesh-va-rah
- gṛ–hīt–vai–tā–ni saṃ–yā–ti 8 syllables gri-heet-vai-taa-ni sam-yaa-ti
- vā–yur–gan–dhā–ni–vā–śa–yāt || 15-8 8 syllables vaa-yur-gan-dhaa-ni-vaa-sha-yaat
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 15 Verse 8
Context
Krishna continues explaining the soul (15.7–15.11).
Meaning
The soul is īśvara, lord of the body. When it leaves one body and enters another, it carries the subtle mind and senses with it, just as the vāyu, wind, carries fragrance from flowers. The scent is invisible, but it travels.
What we carry from life to life is not the physical body but the subtle impressions of mind and senses. What we cultivate now travels with us.
In Practice
Cultivate a “fragrance” of kindness and wisdom today that is worth carrying forward.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga (The Supreme Person). 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.