In Bhagavad Gita 5.9, Krishna continues: while speaking, letting go, grasping, opening and closing the eyes, the yogi remembers that only the senses are moving among their objects.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्णन्
नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु
वर्तन्त इति धारयन् ॥ ५-९ ॥
pralapanvisṛjangṛhṇan
nunmiṣannimiṣannapi
indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣu
vartanta iti dhārayan
English transliteration pralapanvisrijangrihnan
nunmishannimishannapi
indriyaaneendriyaartheshu
vartanta iti dhaarayan ॥ 5.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
while speaking, releasing, grasping, opening and closing the eyes, he holds firmly that it is only the senses that are moving among the objects of the senses.
Verses 5.8–5.9 form one sentence.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रलपन् pralapan | speaking |
| विसृजन् visṛjan | releasing |
| गृह्णन् gṛhṇan | grasping |
| उन्मिषन् unmiṣan | opening the eyes |
| निमिषन् nimiṣan | closing the eyes |
| अपि api | even |
| इन्द्रियाणि indriyāṇi | the senses |
| इन्द्रियार्थेषु indriyārtheṣu | among the sense objects |
| वर्तन्ते vartante | move |
| इति iti | thus |
| धारयन् dhārayan | holding firmly |
Word-wise Chanting
- pra–la–pan–vi–sṛ–jan–gṛh–ṇan– 8 syllables pra-la-pan-vi-sri-jan-grih-nan-
- nun–mi–ṣan–ni–mi–ṣan–na–pi | 8 syllables nun-mi-shan-ni-mi-shan-na-pi
- in–dri–yā–ṇīn–dri–yār–the–ṣu 8 syllables in-dri-yaa-neen-dri-yaar-the-shu
- var–tan–ta i–ti dhā–ra–yan || 5-9 8 syllables var-tan-ta i-ti dhaa-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 9
Context
The sentence begun in 5.8 is completed.
Meaning
The list of activities continues: speaking, excreting, grasping, even the blinking of the eyes. In all of them, the knower holds firmly, dhārayan, to the understanding that it is the senses interacting with their objects, not the Self. This is a steady practice of discrimination, not a passing thought.
The word dhārayan suggests continuous effort. At first we must remind ourselves often; later it becomes natural. With practice, even the smallest movements of life can become occasions for remembering the Self.
In Practice
Choose one ordinary action, such as blinking or breathing, and for a few minutes witness it as the senses at work, not “me.”
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.