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Chapter 3 · Karma-yoga · 43 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 3 · Karma-yoga
3.53.7

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 3.6

Why disciplined, selfless action is necessary

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।

इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥ ६ ॥

karmendriyāṇi saṁyamya

ya āste manasā smaran

indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā

mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate

Translation

One who restrains the senses of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Avoid a Show of Restraint

  1. 1One who controls outward actions but keeps thinking of sense enjoyment deceives himself and is a pretender.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that a show of meditation has no value when one avoids work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and seeks sense enjoyment.
  3. 3Follow the rules and duties of your position to gradually purify your life, rather than pretend to be a yogī.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 3, Karma-yoga: why disciplined, selfless action is necessary.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Act dutifully without attachment to fruits.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 3.6 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 3 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 3.3Why disciplined, selfless action is necessaryBG 3.4Why disciplined, selfless action is necessaryBG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomes

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 3.6 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.