Chapter 3, Verse 6
Karma Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
karma-indriyāṇi—the organs of action; sanyamya—restrain; yaḥ—who; āste—remain; manasā—in the mind; smaran—to remember; indriya-arthān—sense objects; vimūḍha-ātmā—the deluded; mithyā-āchāraḥ—hypocrite; saḥ—they; uchyate—are called
English translation
He who, restraining the organs of action, sits thinking of the sense-objects in his mind, he of deluded understanding is called a hypocrite.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 3.6
Commentary
The five organs of action; Karma Indriyas; are Vak (organ of speech); Pani (hands); Padam (feet); Upastha (genitals) and Guda (anus). They are born of the Rajasic portion of the five Tanmatras or subtle elements Vak from the Akasa Tanmatra (ether); Pani from the Vayu Tanmatra (air); Padam from the Agni Tanmatra (fire); Upastha from the Apas Tanmatra (water); and Guda from the Prithivi Tanmatra (earth). That man who; restraining the organs of action; sits revolving in his mind thoughts regarding the objects of the senses is a man of sinful conduct. He is selfdeluded. He is a veritable hypocrite. The organs of action must be controlled. The thoughts should also be controlled. The mind should be firmly fixed on the Lord. Only then will you become a true Yogi. Only then will you attain to Selfrealisation.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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