In Bhagavad Gita 5.13, Krishna says the self-controlled embodied one, renouncing all actions in the mind, dwells happily in the city of nine gates, neither acting nor causing action.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सर्वकर्माणि मनसा
संन्यस्यास्ते सुखं वशी
नवद्वारे पुरे देही
नैव कुर्वन्न कारयन् ॥ ५-१३ ॥
sarvakarmāṇi manasā
saṃnyasyāste sukhaṃ vaśī
navadvāre pure dehī
naiva kurvanna kārayan
English transliteration sarvakarmaani manasaa
samnyasyaaste sukham vashee
navadvaare pure dehee
naiva kurvanna kaarayan ॥ 5.13 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Renouncing all actions with the mind, the self-controlled embodied one dwells happily in the city of nine gates, neither acting nor causing others to act.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सर्वकर्माणि sarvakarmāṇi | all actions |
| मनसा manasā | with the mind |
| संन्यस्य saṃnyasya | renouncing |
| आस्ते āste | dwells |
| सुखम् sukham | happily |
| वशी vaśī | the self-controlled |
| नवद्वारे navadvāre | of nine gates nava (nine) + dvāre (gates) |
| पुरे pure | in the city |
| देही dehī | the embodied one |
| न na | not |
| एव eva | indeed |
| कुर्वन् kurvan | acting |
| न na | not |
| कारयन् kārayan | causing to act |
Word-wise Chanting
- sar–va–kar–mā–ṇi ma–na–sā 8 syllables sar-va-kar-maa-ni ma-na-saa
- saṃn–yas–yās–te su–khaṃ va–śī | 8 syllables samn-yas-yaas-te su-kham va-shee
- na–vad–vā–re pu–re de–hī 8 syllables na-vad-vaa-re pu-re de-hee
- nai–va kur–van–na kā–ra–yan || 5-13 8 syllables nai-va kur-van-na kaa-ra-yan
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 5 Verse 13
Context
Krishna describes the inner renunciation of the wise (5.13–5.17).
Meaning
The body is a city with nine gates: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, the mouth and the two organs of excretion and generation. The embodied Self dwells in this city like a peaceful king. Having renounced all actions mentally, it neither acts nor makes others act; it simply witnesses, happy and free.
The image invites us to see the body as a dwelling, not as ourselves. The Self lives in it, watches over it, but is not confined by its activity. This understanding brings a deep ease: the city goes about its business while the resident remains at peace.
In Practice
Sit quietly and feel your body as a city with nine gates. Rest as the peaceful dweller within, aware but not busy.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of Renunciation). 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.