In Bhagavad Gita 5.8, Krishna says the yogi who knows the truth thinks “I do nothing at all,” even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, walking, sleeping and breathing.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नैव किञ्चित्करोमीति
युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित्
पश्यञ्शृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्
नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपञ्श्वसन् ॥ ५-८ ॥
naiva kiñcitkaromīti
yukto manyeta tattvavit
paśyañśṛṇvanspṛśañjighran
naśnangacchansvapañśvasan
English transliteration naiva kinchitkaromeeti
yukto manyeta tattvavit
pashyanshrinvansprishanjighran
nashnangachchhansvapanshvasan ॥ 5.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The yogi who knows the truth thinks, “I do nothing at all,” even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping and breathing,
Verses 5.8–5.9 form one sentence.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| एव eva | indeed |
| किञ्चित् kiñcit | anything |
| करोमि karomi | I do |
| इति iti | thus |
| युक्तः yuktaḥ | the yogi |
| मन्येत manyeta | thinks |
| तत्त्ववित् tattvavit | knower of the truth |
| पश्यन् paśyan | seeing |
| शृण्वन् śṛṇvan | hearing |
| स्पृशन् spṛśan | touching |
| जिघ्रन् jighran | smelling |
| अश्नन् aśnan | eating |
| गच्छन् gacchan | moving |
| स्वपन् svapan | sleeping |
| श्वसन् śvasan | breathing |
Word-wise Chanting
- nai–va kiñ–cit–ka–ro–mī–ti 8 syllables nai-va kin-chit-ka-ro-mee-ti
- yuk–to man–ye–ta tat–tva–vit | 8 syllables yuk-to man-ye-ta tat-tva-vit
- paś–yañ–śṛṇ–van–spṛ–śañ–jigh–ran– 8 syllables pash-yan-shrin-van-spri-shan-jigh-ran-
- naś–nan–gac–chan–sva–pañ–śva–san || 5-8 8 syllables nash-nan-gach-chhan-sva-pan-shva-san
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 8
Context
Krishna describes the inner experience of the realised karma yogi (5.8–5.9).
Meaning
The knower of truth goes about all the ordinary activities of life, seeing, hearing, eating, walking, sleeping and breathing, yet feels “I am not doing anything.” This is not denial but insight: the Self is the witness, while the senses and body act in their own spheres.
Imagine living each ordinary moment with this awareness. Instead of being lost in activity, one rests in the quiet witness. Life becomes lighter, and actions flow more naturally without the heavy sense of “I, I, I.”
In Practice
As you go through ordinary activities today, occasionally pause and remind yourself: “I am the witness of this.”
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.