Verse 9
प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्णन्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि | इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन् || ९ ||
Transliteration
pralapan visṛjan gṛhṇann unmiṣan nimiṣann api indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣu vartanta iti dhārayan
Synonyms
pralapan—talking; visṛjan—giving up; gṛhṇan—accepting; unmiṣan—opening; nimiṣan—closing; api—also; indriyāṇi—the senses; indriya-artheṣu—in sense gratification; vartante—are engaged; iti—thus; dhārayan—knowing.
Translation
“Talking, letting go, grasping, opening and closing the eyes — the knower of truth knows: 'The senses are moving among sense objects; I am not the doer.'”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
Verses 5.8 and 5.9 together describe the same liberating understanding from two angles. In 5.8 Krishna lists major life functions; in 5.9 He lists subtler ones like speaking and blinking. Together they cover the entire field of activity. The sage's inner knowledge — 'I am the witness, not the agent' — remains unbroken through all of it. This is not suppression of activity; it is freedom within activity.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
Throughout your day, experiment with this mantra: 'The body is speaking; the eyes are seeing; the hands are working. I am the silent awareness behind all of it.' Even five minutes of this practice can shift your relationship to stress and busyness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 5.9 mean?
Talking, letting go, grasping, opening and closing the eyes — the knower of truth knows: 'The senses are moving among sense objects; I am not the doer.'
What is the word-by-word meaning of Bhagavad Gita 5.9?
pralapan—talking; visṛjan—giving up; gṛhṇan—accepting; unmiṣan—opening; nimiṣan—closing; api—also; indriyāṇi—the senses; indriya-artheṣu—in sense gratification; vartante—are engaged; iti—thus; dhārayan—knowing.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 5.9 in daily life?
Throughout your day, experiment with this mantra: 'The body is speaking; the eyes are seeing; the hands are working. I am the silent awareness behind all of it.' Even five minutes of this practice can shift your relationship to stress and busyness.