In Bhagavad Gita 5.27, Krishna begins describing meditation: shutting out external contacts, fixing the gaze between the eyebrows, and balancing the in-breath and out-breath in the nostrils.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्
चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवोः
प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा
नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ ॥ ५-२७ ॥
sparśānkṛtvā bahirbāhyāṃś
cakṣuścaivāntare bhruvoḥ
prāṇāpānau samau kṛtvā
nāsābhyantaracāriṇau
English transliteration sparshaankritvaa bahirbaahyaamsh
chakshushchaivaantare bhruvoh
praanaapaanau samau kritvaa
naasaabhyantarachaarinau ॥ 5.27 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Shutting out all external contacts, fixing the gaze between the eyebrows, and making the outgoing and incoming breaths even as they move within the nostrils,
Verses 5.27–5.28 form one sentence describing meditation.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| स्पर्शान् sparśān | contacts |
| कृत्वा kṛtvā | making |
| बहिः bahiḥ | outside |
| बाह्यान् bāhyān | external |
| चक्षुः cakṣuḥ | the gaze |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| अन्तरे antare | between |
| भ्रुवोः bhruvoḥ | the eyebrows |
| प्राणापानौ prāṇāpānau | the outgoing and incoming breaths prāṇa (outgoing breath) + apānau (incoming breath) |
| समौ samau | even |
| कृत्वा kṛtvā | making |
| नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ nāsābhyantaracāriṇau | moving within the nostrils nāsā (nose) + abhyantara (within) + cāriṇau (moving) |
Word-wise Chanting
- spar–śān–kṛt–vā ba–hir–bāh–yāṃś– 8 syllables spar-shaan-krit-vaa ba-hir-baah-yaamsh-
- ca–kṣuś–cai–vān–ta–re bhru–voḥ | 8 syllables cha-kshush-chai-vaan-ta-re bhru-voh
- prā–ṇā–pā–nau sa–mau kṛt–vā 8 syllables praa-naa-paa-nau sa-mau krit-vaa
- nā–sābh–yan–ta–ra–cā–ri–ṇau || 5-27 8 syllables naa-saabh-yan-ta-ra-chaa-ri-nau
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 27
Context
Krishna introduces the practice of meditation, which Chapter 6 will develop in detail (5.27–5.28).
Meaning
Three practical steps are given. First, withdraw from external contacts, closing the doors of the senses. Second, gently fix attention between the eyebrows, a traditional point of concentration. Third, balance the breath so that inhalation and exhalation flow evenly through the nostrils, calming the mind.
This verse is a bridge to Chapter 6, the chapter of meditation. The techniques are simple and practical: sense withdrawal, a point of focus and balanced breathing. They prepare the mind for the stillness in which the Self is known.
In Practice
Practise for five minutes: close your eyes, rest attention gently between the eyebrows, and let the breath become slow and even.
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.