यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन ।कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥
yas tv indriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate 'rjuna |karmendriyaiḥ karmayogam asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate ||
- यः · yaḥ
- who
- तु · tu
- but, on the other hand
- इन्द्रियाणि · indriyāṇi
- the senses
- मनसा · manasā
- with the mind
- नियम्य · niyamya
- having controlled
- आरभते · ārabhate
- undertakes, begins
- अर्जुन · arjuna
- O Arjuna
- कर्मेन्द्रियैः · karmendriyaiḥ
- with the organs of action
- कर्मयोगम् · karmayogam
- the yoga of action
- असक्तः · asaktaḥ
- unattached
- सः · saḥ
- he
- विशिष्यते · viśiṣyate
- excels, is distinguished
“But one who controls the senses with the mind, O Arjuna, and undertakes the yoga of action with the organs of action, unattached — that one excels.”
— Original plain-language translation
The ideal is neither indulgence nor suppression but governed engagement: mind rules senses, hands do the work, heart stays unattached. Such a person acts fully in the world yet remains inwardly free. This single verse condenses the whole karma-yoga method.
— Reader's notes (original)