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Chapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness · 29 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Liberation & destinyChapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

5.26 5.28

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 5.27

Liberation through spiritual discipline

Jīva · The soul

स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवो: ।

प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ ॥ २७ ॥

यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्मुनिर्मोक्षपरायण: ।

विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो य: सदा मुक्त एव स: ॥ २८ ॥

sparśān kṛtvā bahir bāhyāṁś

cakṣuś caivāntare bhruvoḥ

prāṇāpānau samau kṛtvā

nāsābhyantara-cāriṇau

yatendriya-mano-buddhir

munir mokṣa-parāyaṇaḥ

vigatecchā-bhaya-krodho

yaḥ sadā mukta eva saḥ

Translation

Shutting out all external sense objects, keeping the eyes and vision concentrated between the two eyebrows, suspending the inward and outward breaths within the nostrils, and thus controlling the mind, senses and intelligence, the transcendentalist aiming at liberation becomes free from desire, fear and anger. One who is always in this state is certainly liberated.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Yoga and Sense Control

1
The verse describes shutting out sense objects, focusing between the eyebrows and restraining the breath. Controlling the mind, senses and intelligence leads to freedom from desire, fear and anger, and to liberation.
2
Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the easiest way to practice yoga principles. Devotional service controls the senses better than aṣṭāṅga-yoga.
3
Engage in devotional service to understand your spiritual identity and the Supreme Lord.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 5.27–28

Introduction to astanga-yoga

People generally identify spirituality with inaction. They think sitting somewhere in forest is more spiritual than working in Karma-yoga. Lord Krishna makes the point that there is no difference between karma-yoga and astanga-yoga

Krishna tells how one may achieve same Supersoul realization through astanga-yoga (A preview to Chapter 6)

Also when one is thus purified in vision and activities by niskama-karma-yoga, only then one can begin and make advancement in astanga-yoga

Krishna consciousness as “Transcendental position of liberation in the supreme” which includes the following realizations:

One can immediately understand one’s spiritual position

One can understand the Supreme Lord by devotional service

One is qualified to feel the presence of the Lord everywhere

Astanga-yoga helps by eight-fold means in following ways:

Becoming free from all fear, desire and anger

Control the senses, mind and intelligence

Feel the presence of Supersoul in transcendental situation

What are the eight steps of astanga-yoga — yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and Samadhi

Krishna Consciousness as the easiest form of yoga — Krishna conscious person, being always engaged in devotional service, does not risk losing his senses to some other engagement. Thus it is a better way of controlling the senses than astanga-yoga