सर्वकर्माणि मनसा संन्यस्यास्ते सुखं वशी। नवद्वारे पुरे देही नैव कुर्वन्न कारयन्।।5.13।।
sarvakarmāṇi manasā sannyasyāste sukham vaśī; navadvāre pure dehī naiva kurvanna kārayan
Translation
Having renounced all activities by the mind, the self‑controlled one remains in happiness; the embodied soul, residing in the city of nine gates, never thinks itself to be the doer or the cause of anything.
Word Meanings
sarva — all; karmāṇi — activities; manasā — by the mind; sannyasyāste — having renounced; sukham — happiness; vaśī — one who is controlled; navadvāre — at the place of nine gates; pure — in the city; dehī — the embodied soul; naiva — never; kurvanna — doing; kārayan — causing to be done
Understanding the Verse
Verse 5.13 of the Bhagavad Gita explains the state of a truly self‑controlled yogi. The verse begins with the phrase ‘sarvakarmāṇi manasā sannyasyāste’, indicating that the yogi has given up every action (karmas) in the mind. This does not mean that he ceases all activity in the material world; rather, he performs his duties without attachment, seeing them merely as functions of the body. By renouncing the mental ownership of actions, the yogi frees himself from the bondage of ego, which is the root of suffering.
The next part, ‘sukham vaśī’, describes the result of such renunciation: the yogi dwells in peace and happiness and becomes master of himself. The Sanskrit term ‘vaśa’ conveys both control and delight, suggesting that the self‑controlled person is both pleased by his inner tranquility and capable of governing his thoughts and senses.
The verse then shifts focus to the ‘navadvāre pure’, the ‘city of nine gates’. In Vedic cosmology, the human body is compared to a city with nine openings: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, the mouth, the anus, and the genitals. By residing in this city, the yogi is not outside the body but is fully present within it, using the body as a vehicle for spiritual practice rather than as a source of attachment.
The final clause, ‘dehī naiva kurvanna kārayan’, emphasizes that the embodied soul (dehī) does not consider itself the doer (naiva … kurvanna) or the cause (kārayan) of any action. This is the essence of akṛtivāda – the doctrine that the self is the passive witness, while the gunas (qualities of nature) drive the outward activity. Recognizing this separates the true self from the fleeting phenomena of the material world, leading to liberation (moksha).
Practically, this teaching guides seekers to perform their worldly responsibilities—family duties, work, and social obligations—without the mental imprint of ownership. By internalizing this attitude, one cultivates equanimity, reduces anxiety about outcomes, and nurtures a deeper sense of inner freedom. The verse thus provides a roadmap for integrating spiritual wisdom into everyday life, showing that enlightenment is not achieved by escaping the world but by transforming one’s relationship to it.
