Chapter 3: Karma Yoga, verse 7
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन।
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥
Say ityas tvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate ’rjuna
karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam asaktaḥ sa viśhiṣhyate
Translation
But whoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga with the organs of action, without attachment, he excels.
Swami Sivananda
But, O Arjuna, one who engages in Karma-yoga, controlling the organs of action with the mind and becoming unattached, excels.
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
But he who, subduing his senses by the mind, O Arjuna, begins to practice Karma Yoga through the organs of action and who is free from attachment, excels.
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
But, controlling the sense-organs with the mind, whoever undertakes the Yoga of action with the action-senses, he, the detached one, is superior, O Arjuna!
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
But, O Arjuna! All honor to him whose mind controls his senses, for he is thereby beginning to practice Karma-Yoga, the Path of Right Action, keeping himself always unattached.
Shri Purohit Swami
हे अर्जुन! जो मनुष्य मनसे इन्द्रियोंपर नियन्त्रण करके आसक्तिरहित होकर (निष्काम भावसे) समस्त इन्द्रियोंके द्वारा कर्मयोगका आचरण करता है, वही श्रेष्ठ है।
Swami Ramsukhdas
परन्तु हे अर्जुन जो पुरुष मन से इन्द्रियों को वश में करके अनासक्त हुआ कर्मेंन्द्रियों से कर्मयोग का आचरण करता है वह श्रेष्ठ है।
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.
Verse map
How this verse connects to feelings, situations, ideas and other verses. Hover or tap to see why; these links are drafts awaiting review.