In Bhagavad Gita 3.6, Krishna says that one who restrains the organs of action but keeps dwelling on sense objects in the mind is deluded and called a hypocrite.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य
य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा
मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥ ३-६ ॥
karmendriyāṇi saṃyamya
ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthānvimūḍhātmā
mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate
English transliteration karmendriyaani samyamya
ya aaste manasaa smaran
indriyaarthaanvimoodhaatmaa
mithyaachaarah sa uchyate ॥ 3.6 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who restrains the organs of action but sits dwelling in the mind on the objects of the senses is deluded and is called a hypocrite.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कर्मेन्द्रियाणि karmendriyāṇi | the organs of action karma (action) + indriyāṇi (organs) |
| संयम्य saṃyamya | restraining |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| आस्ते āste | sits |
| मनसा manasā | with the mind |
| स्मरन् smaran | remembering, dwelling on |
| इन्द्रियार्थान् indriyārthān | sense objects indriya (senses) + arthān (objects) |
| विमूढात्मा vimūḍhātmā | deluded vimūḍha (deluded) + ātmā (self) |
| मिथ्याचारः mithyācāraḥ | hypocrite mithyā (false) + ācāraḥ (conduct) |
| सः saḥ | he |
| उच्यते ucyate | is called |
Word-wise Chanting
- kar–men–dri–yā–ṇi saṃ–yam–ya 8 syllables kar-men-dri-yaa-ni sam-yam-ya
- ya ās–te ma–na–sā sma–ran | 8 syllables ya aas-te ma-na-saa sma-ran
- in–dri–yār–thān–vi–mū–ḍhāt–mā 8 syllables in-dri-yaar-thaan-vi-moo-dhaat-maa
- mith–yā–cā–raḥ sa uc–ya–te || 3-6 8 syllables mith-yaa-chaa-rah sa uch-ya-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 3 Verse 6
Context
Krishna contrasts outer restraint without inner purity (3.6) with true karma yoga (3.7).
Meaning
A person may give up outward activity yet spend the time dreaming of the pleasures they have renounced. Krishna calls this mithyācāra, false conduct. The body is still, but the mind runs after sense objects. Such renunciation is a pretence that deceives others and oneself.
The verse is a call to inner honesty. What matters is not only what we do with our hands but what we do with our minds. A show of restraint that hides constant craving brings no freedom. Better to act sincerely than to renounce falsely.
In Practice
Look at one thing you have given up. Notice honestly whether your mind still dwells on it, and if so, address the inner craving rather than only the outer habit.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). 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.