कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्रामं अचेतसः। माम् चैव अन्तःशरीरस्थं तान् विख्यातासुरनिश्चयं।।17.6।।
karṣayantaḥ śarīrasthaṁ bhūtagrāmaṁ acetasāḥ māṁ caiva antaḥ‑śarīrasthaṁ tān viddhi asura‑niścayaṁ
Translation
Those who, in ignorance, draw the body, the aggregate of elements, and also draw Me within the body, should be recognized as possessing a demoniac resolve.
Word Meanings
कर्षयन्तः — those who draw, pull; शरीरस्थं — situated in the body, internal; भूतग्रामं — aggregate of elements, material world; अचेतसः — unconscious, ignorant; माम् — the Supreme Lord, Me; चैव — also, likewise; अन्तः — within, inside; शरीरस्थं — residing in the body; तान् — them, those persons; विख्यातासुरनिश्चयं — known demoniac resolve, evil determination
Understanding the Verse
Verse 17.6 of the Bhagavad Gita deals with the classification of actions and attitudes according to the quality of resolve that motivates them. The term ‘kārṣayantaḥ’ (those who pull) metaphorically describes individuals who, through their own limited understanding, endeavor to manipulate the body—the ‘śarīrasthaṁ bhūtagrāmaṁ’ (the internal aggregate of the three gunas, the elements that constitute material existence). Their effort is described as ‘acetasāḥ’ (without consciousness), indicating a state of ignorance that prevents the realization of the true spiritual nature of the self.
The verse then shifts focus to the Supreme Reality, addressing the listener directly: ‘mām caiva antaḥ‑śarīrasthaṁ’ (Me also residing within the body). This stresses that the Lord pervades every particle of material creation and is the innermost essence of every being. When the ignorant pull the body, they also inadvertently ‘pull’ the divine presence that dwells within, but they do so without awareness, mistaking the divine spark for a mere object of sensory experience.
Krishna instructs Arjuna to ‘viddhi’ (know, recognize) that those who act in such a manner are ‘asura‑niścaya‑m’ (possessors of demoniac resolve). The term ‘asura’ does not merely refer to mythic demons; it signifies a mindset dominated by selfish desire, pride, and a refusal to submit to divine guidance. This demoniac resolve is contrasted with ‘daivika‑niścaya‑m’ (divine resolve) and ‘manushya‑niścaya‑m’ (human resolve) described in the surrounding verses. The demoniac disposition seeks pleasure through the senses, disregards the sanctity of life, and employs force or deception to fulfill its cravings.
From a practical standpoint, the verse warns against a subtle spiritual danger: the tendency to treat the body as a tool for personal gratification while ignoring the presence of the divine within. Such a mindset leads to actions driven by ego, producing harm both to the individual and to society. Recognizing this pattern enables a seeker to cultivate self‑awareness, replace ignorance with knowledge (‘jnana’) and align actions with a higher, divine resolve. By doing so, one transcends the pull of material entanglement and moves toward a state of purity, devotion, and ultimate liberation.
