Bhagavad Gita · Verse 5.13
Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (कर्मसंन्यासयोगः)
(The Supreme Lord said)
सर्वकर्माणि मनसा संन्यस्यास्ते सुखं वशी । नवद्वारे पुरे देही नैव कुर्वन्न कारयन् ॥१३॥
sarvakarmāṇi manasā saṃnyasyāste sukhaṃ vaśī | navadvāre pure dehī naiva kurvanna kārayan ||13||
Complete Shloka Translation
Mentally renouncing all actions, the self-controlled embodied one lives happily in the city of nine gates, neither acting nor causing action.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नवद्वारे | navadvāre | nine-gated |
| देही | dehī | embodied one |
| सर्वकर्माणि | sarvakarmāṇi | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
| मनसा | manasā | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
| संन्यस्यास्ते | saṃnyasyāste | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
| सुखं | sukhaṃ | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
| वशी | vaśī | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
| पुरे | pure | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
| नैव | naiva | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
| कुर्वन्न | kurvanna | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
| कारयन् | kārayan | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
| १३ | kārayan | [term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action... |
nine-gated
embodied one
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
[term] in context of Mentally renouncing all action...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
The nine-gated city is an image of the body and its openings. The embodied self's non-agency is distinguished from the bodily processes that continue.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Inner renunciation concerns how we inhabit life, not simply where we live."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
How do you distinguish inner renunciation from changing your surroundings?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse to master calm detachment in daily work: act with full excellence and sincerity, but like water sliding off a lotus leaf, let neither praise nor blame stain your inner composure.