Bhagavad Gita BG 17.6
Chapter 17, Verse 6 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
कर्शयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः । मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ॥
karshayantah sharira-stham bhuta-gramam acetasah mam caiv-antah-sharira-stham tan viddhy asura-nishcayan
Meaning
Torturing the aggregate of elements in the body, and Me too dwelling within the body — know these mindless ones to be of demonic resolve.
Understanding
This verse completes the description of those who perform severe, scripture-less austerities (v5). Karshayantah (torturing, wasting, afflicting). Sharira-stham bhuta-gramam (the aggregate of elements dwelling in the body). Acetasah (without understanding, mindless — the torturing is done without wisdom). Mam ca eva antah-sharira-stham (and Me also dwelling within the body — the Divine within is also tortured when the body is tortured beyond reason). Tan viddhy asura-nishcayan (know them to be of demonic resolve). The key insight: the body is not merely matter; the Divine dwells within it. To torture it beyond scriptural guidance, driven by ego, hypocrisy, and desire (v5), is to harm the Divine indweller. Scriptural guidance protects the body-as-Divine-vessel.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कर्शयन्तः | karshayantah | torturing, tormenting, afflicting, wasting |
| भूतग्रामम् | bhuta-gramam | aggregate of elements, collection of material components (of the body) |
| अचेतसः | acetasah | without understanding, mindless, unreasoning |
| अन्तःशरीरस्थम् | antah-sharira-stham | dwelling within the body, situated inside the body |
| आसुरनिश्चयान् | asura-nishcayan | of demonic resolve/determination (asura = demonic) |
| कर्षयन्तः | karśayantaḥ | tormenting |
| शरीर-स्थम् | śarīra-stham | situated in the body |
| भूत-ग्राम | bhūta-grāmam | the aggregate of elements |
| अचेतसः | acetasaḥ | the senseless |
| माम् | mām ca eva | and also Me |
| अन्तः-शरीर-स्थम् | antaḥ-śarīra-stham | dwelling within the body |
| तान् | tān | them |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know |
| आसुर-निश्चयान् | āsura-niścayān | of demoniac resolve |
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