In Bhagavad Gita 15.9, Krishna says the soul presides over the ear, eye, touch, taste, smell and mind, and experiences the objects of the senses.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च
रसनं घ्राणमेव च
अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं
विषयानुपसेवते ॥ १५-९ ॥
śrotraṃ cakṣuḥ sparśanaṃ ca
rasanaṃ ghrāṇameva ca
adhiṣṭhāya manaścāyaṃ
viṣayānupasevate
English transliteration shrotram chakshuh sparshanam cha
rasanam ghraanameva cha
adhishthaaya manashchaayam
vishayaanupasevate ॥ 15.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Presiding over the ear, the eye, touch, taste and smell, and also the mind, it experiences the objects of the senses.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| श्रोत्रम् śrotram | the ear |
| चक्षुः cakṣuḥ | the eye |
| स्पर्शनम् sparśanam | touch |
| च ca | and |
| रसनम् rasanam | taste |
| घ्राणम् ghrāṇam | smell |
| एव eva | also |
| च ca | and |
| अधिष्ठाय adhiṣṭhāya | presiding over |
| मनः manaḥ | the mind |
| च ca | and |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| विषयान् viṣayān | the objects of the senses |
| उपसेवते upasevate | experiences |
Word-wise Chanting
- śrot–raṃ ca–kṣuḥ spar–śa–naṃ ca 8 syllables shrot-ram cha-kshuh spar-sha-nam cha
- ra–sa–naṃ ghrā–ṇa–me–va ca | 8 syllables ra-sa-nam ghraa-na-me-va cha
- a–dhiṣ–ṭhā–ya ma–naś–cā–yaṃ 8 syllables a-dhish-thaa-ya ma-nash-chaa-yam
- vi–ṣa–yā–nu–pa–se–va–te || 15-9 8 syllables vi-sha-yaa-nu-pa-se-va-te
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 9
Context
Krishna continues explaining the soul (15.7–15.11).
Meaning
Through the five senses and the mind, the soul adhiṣṭhāya, presides over and uses them, and upasevate, enjoys and experiences, the world of sense objects. The senses are its instruments of experience.
The senses are not enemies; they are instruments. The question is whether the soul uses them wisely or is used by them.
In Practice
Enjoy a sensory experience today, a sound, a taste, a sight, with full awareness that you are the one experiencing it.
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.