Bhagavad Gita BG 3.7
Chapter 3, Verse 7 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन । कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥ ७ ॥
yas tv indriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate 'rjuna karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate
Meaning
But one who controls the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, and engages the organs of action in karma-yoga, remaining unattached — that person is superior.
Understanding
This is the positive counterpart to v6's mithyācāra. Here the ideal is reversed: the mind genuinely governs the senses (not just the body), and then that controlled person actively engages in karma-yoga with asaktaḥ — without attachment to results. The sequence matters: mental discipline first, then action. The word viśiṣyate means 'excels / is superior' — this person surpasses both the idle pretender and even the person who acts with attachment. Inner freedom combined with outer engagement is the karma yoga ideal.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| मनसा | manasā | by the mind / through mental control |
| नियम्य | niyamya | controlling / regulating |
| असक्तः | asaktaḥ | unattached / free from clinging |
| विशिष्यते | viśiṣyate | excels / is superior / stands out |
| कर्मयोगम् | karma-yogam | the yoga of action / selfless engagement |
| यः तु | yas tu | but he who / the one who |
| इन्द्रियाणि | indriyāṇi | the senses |
| आरभते | ārabhate | undertakes / begins / engages in |
| अर्जुन | arjuna | O Arjuna |
| कर्मेन्द्रियैः | karmendriyaiḥ | with the organs of action / with the working senses |
| सः | saḥ | he (that person is superior) |