Bhagavad Gita BG 5.27
Chapter 5, Verse 27 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश् चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवोः । प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ ॥
sparshan krtva bahir bahyams cakshus caivantare bhruvoh prana-apanau samau krtva nasabhyantara-carinau
Meaning
Keeping external sense-contacts outside, with the gaze directed to the space between the eyebrows, making the prana and apana equal within the nostrils...
Understanding
The beginning of a two-verse description of meditation technique. Three instructions: (1) sparshan bahyams krtva bahih — keep external sense-contacts outside (pratyahara — withdrawal of the senses). (2) caksuh antare bhruvoh — direct the gaze to the space between the eyebrows (the ajna chakra region — a focusing point for internal attention). (3) prana-apanau samau krtva — equalize the prana and apana within the nostrils (pranayama — balancing the breath creates mental stillness).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| स्पर्शान् | sparshan | sense-contacts, external touches |
| बहिः | bahih | outside, external |
| भ्रुवोः अन्तरे | bhruvoh antare | between the eyebrows |
| प्राणापानौ | prana-apanau | prana (ascending breath) and apana (descending breath) |
| समौ | samau | equal, balanced |
| कृत्वा | kṛtvā | having excluded / keeping out (external contacts) |
| बाह्यान् | bāhyān | the external (sense objects) |
| चक्षुः | cakṣuḥ | the gaze / the eye |
| च एव | caiva | and also / and indeed |
| नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ | nāsābhyantara-cāriṇau | moving within the nostrils / the two breaths flowing inside the nose |