Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 3 › Verse 6
Bhagavad Gītā 3.6: Still body, busy mind
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥
karmendriyāṇi saṃyamya ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthānvimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate
Recitation: NehalDaveND (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0, adapted, original recording
Meaning
One who restrains the organs of action but sits recalling the sense objects in the mind is deluded and is called a hypocrite. Outward renunciation with inward craving is self-deception; the problem Kṛṣṇa addresses is attachment, which lives in the mind.
For children
Krishna says: “If you sit still but keep thinking about the sweets you want, you are only pretending.”
Kṛṣṇa explains why giving up action outwardly is not enough (3.4–3.5).
Word by word
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य — Someone who holds back their hands and feet
- karmendriya: organ of action (hands, feet …)
- saṃyamya: holding back
य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् — but sits thinking in their mind
- yaḥ: who
- āste: sits
- manasā: in the mind
- smaran: thinking of
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा — about the things the senses want
- indriyārtha: what the senses want
- vimūḍhātman: a confused person
मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते — is confused, and is called a pretender
- mithyācāra: pretender
- ucyate: is called
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.