Chapter 17, Verse 6 (Bhagavad Gita 17.6)
Chapter 17: Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yog – Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Sanskrit Shloka
कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्
Transliteration
karṣhayantaḥ śharīra-sthaṁ bhūta-grāmam achetasaḥ māṁ chaivāntaḥ śharīra-sthaṁ tān viddhy āsura-niśhchayān
Word Meanings
karṣhayantaḥ—torment; śharīra-stham—within the body; bhūta-grāmam—elements of the body; achetasaḥ—senseless; mām—me; cha—and; eva—even; antaḥ—within; śharīra-stham—dwelling in the body; tān—them; viddhi—know; āsura-niśhchayān—of demoniacal resolves
Translation
Know those individuals to be of demoniac resolves who senselessly torture the elements comprising the body, as well as Me, Shri Krishna, who dwell within that same body.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Lord Krishna reveals the tragic state of those blinded by the ego, who perform severe austerities not for spiritual elevation, but for self-aggrandizement. By mistreating their physical vessel and ignoring the Divine presence within, these individuals directly inflict suffering upon Shri Krishna Himself, who resides in the heart of every living being. This demoniac nature is marked by a lack of discernment, leading souls away from their eternal home toward cycles of bondage. Yogeshwar Krishna calls upon every seeker to recognize that the body is a temple, and true devotion begins by honoring the sacred spark of the Supreme residing within all elements of creation. By surrendering the ego, one ceases this internal violence and aligns their existence with the grace of the Supreme Lord.