In Bhagavad Gita 17.6, Krishna says such senseless people torment the elements of the body and him who dwells within the body; know them to be of demonic resolve.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं
भूतग्राममचेतसः
मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं
तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ॥ १७-६ ॥
karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṃ
bhūtagrāmamacetasaḥ
māṃ caivāntaḥśarīrasthaṃ
tānviddhyāsuraniścayān
English transliteration karshayantah shareerastham
bhootagraamamachetasah
maam chaivaantahshareerastham
taanviddhyaasuranishchayaan ॥ 17.6 ॥
Translation / Meaning
senseless, they torment the elements that make up the body, and Me too, who dwell within the body. Know them to be of demonic resolve.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कर्षयन्तः karṣayantaḥ | tormenting |
| शरीरस्थम् śarīrastham | in the body śarīra (body) + stham (dwelling) |
| भूतग्रामम् bhūtagrāmam | the elements |
| अचेतसः acetasaḥ | senseless |
| माम् mām | Me |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| अन्तःशरीरस्थम् antaḥśarīrastham | dwelling within the body antaḥ (within) + śarīra (body) + stham (dwelling) |
| तान् tān | them |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| आसुरनिश्चयान् āsuraniścayān | of demonic resolve āsura (demonic) + niścayān (resolve) |
Word-wise Chanting
- kar–ṣa–yan–taḥ śa–rī–ras–thaṃ 8 syllables kar-sha-yan-tah sha-ree-ras-tham
- bhū–tag–rā–ma–ma–ce–ta–saḥ | 8 syllables bhoo-tag-raa-ma-ma-che-ta-sah
- māṃ cai–vān–taḥ–śa–rī–ras–thaṃ 8 syllables maam chai-vaan-tah-sha-ree-ras-tham
- tān–vid–dhyā–su–ra–niś–ca–yān || 17-6 8 syllables taan-vid-dhyaa-su-ra-nish-cha-yaan
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 17 Verse 6
Context
The sentence begun in 17.5 is completed here.
Meaning
Extreme austerity karṣayanti, emaciates and torments, the body’s elements. Worse, it torments the Divine who dwells within the body. Such practitioners are acetas, lacking discernment, and their resolve is āsura, demonic.
The body is the temple of the Divine. Abusing it in the name of spirituality is abusing the Divine within.
In Practice
Treat your body today with care and respect as the dwelling of the Divine.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). 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.