In Bhagavad Gita 4.27, Krishna says others offer all the functions of the senses and of the life-breath into the fire of self-control, kindled by knowledge.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि
प्राणकर्माणि चापरे
आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ
जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते ॥ ४-२७ ॥
sarvāṇīndriyakarmāṇi
prāṇakarmāṇi cāpare
ātmasaṃyamayogāgnau
juhvati jñānadīpite
English transliteration sarvaaneendriyakarmaani
praanakarmaani chaapare
aatmasamyamayogaagnau
juhvati jnaanadeepite ॥ 4.27 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Others offer all the activities of the senses and all the functions of the life-breath into the fire of the yoga of self-control, kindled by knowledge.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सर्वाणि sarvāṇi | all |
| इन्द्रियकर्माणि indriyakarmāṇi | activities of the senses indriya (senses) + karmāṇi (activities) |
| प्राणकर्माणि prāṇakarmāṇi | functions of the life-breath prāṇa (life-breath) + karmāṇi (functions) |
| च ca | and |
| अपरे apare | others |
| आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ ātmasaṃyamayogāgnau | in the fire of the yoga of self-control ātma (self) + saṃyama (control) + yoga (yoga) + agnau (in the fire) |
| जुह्वति juhvati | offer |
| ज्ञानदीपिते jñānadīpite | kindled by knowledge jñāna (knowledge) + dīpite (kindled) |
Word-wise Chanting
- sar–vā–ṇīn–dri–ya–kar–mā–ṇi 8 syllables sar-vaa-neen-dri-ya-kar-maa-ni
- prā–ṇa–kar–mā–ṇi cā–pa–re | 8 syllables praa-na-kar-maa-ni chaa-pa-re
- āt–ma–saṃ–ya–ma–yo–gāg–nau 8 syllables aat-ma-sam-ya-ma-yo-gaag-nau
- juh–va–ti jñā–na–dī–pi–te || 4-27 8 syllables juh-va-ti jnaa-na-dee-pi-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 4 Verse 27
Context
The list of sacrifices continues (4.25–4.30), moving toward meditation.
Meaning
Here the practitioner gathers all activity of the senses and of prāṇa, the vital energy, and offers it into the fire of ātma-saṃyama, self-control or concentration on the Self. This fire is lit by knowledge. It describes a deep meditative state in which outer and inner activity are stilled in the Self.
This verse anticipates the teaching on meditation in Chapter 6. Real self-control is not forced suppression but a fire kindled by understanding. When we know the Self, the energies of the senses and breath naturally turn inward and rest there.
In Practice
Sit in meditation for a few minutes, letting the activity of the senses and breath gradually settle into stillness.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation 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.