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Chapter 5 · Verse 8 · Karma Sanyasa Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 5.8

serene Karma & Action Jnana & Wisdom Attachment & Letting Go

Sanskrit

नैव किंचित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित्। पश्यन् श्रृणवन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपन् श्वसन्।।5.8।।

Transliteration

naiva kiñchit karomīti yukto manyeta tattva-vit paśhyañ śhṛiṇvan spṛiśhañjighrann aśhnangachchhan svapañśhvasan pralapan visṛijan gṛihṇann unmiṣhan nimiṣhann api indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣhu vartanta iti dhārayan

Word by Word

na not
eva certainly
kiñchit anything
karomi I do
iti thus
yuktaḥ steadfast in karm yog
manyeta thinks
tattva-vit one who knows the truth
paśhyan seeing
śhṛiṇvan hearing
spṛiśhan touching
jighran smelling
aśhnan eating
gachchhan moving
svapan sleeping
śhvasan breathing
pralapan talking
visṛijan giving up
gṛihṇan accepting
unmiṣhan opening (the eyes)
nimiṣhan closing (the eyes)
api although
indriyāṇi the senses
indriya-artheṣhu in sense-objects
vartante moving
iti thus
dhārayan convinced
Simplified Perspective

The knower of truth experiences a profound freedom—understanding that while the body moves, acts, and engages with the world, the eternal Self remains the untouched witness. The senses naturally do their work, the breath flows, the eyes open and close, yet the awakened one rests in the knowledge that none of this is truly *his* action.

This is not passivity but the deepest form of participation—working in the world while inwardly free from its burden. When you surrender the false claim of doership and align your actions with dharma, you discover that life moves through you with effortless grace, and the anxiety of being responsible for outcomes dissolves.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 5.8 — BG 5.8

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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