Bhagavad Gita 5.13 · Krishna
The city of nine gates
सर्वकर्माणि मनसा संन्यस्यास्ते सुखं वशी।
नवद्वारे पुरे देही नैव कुर्वन्न कारयन्॥
sarvakarmāṇi manasā saṃnyasyāste sukhaṃ vaśīnavadvāre pure dehī naiva kurvanna kārayan
Inwardly letting go of all actions, the self-mastered one lives happily in the city of nine gates, neither doing nor causing anything.
Words
- dehī
What it means
Krishna calls the body a city of nine gates. Two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, the mouth, and the two openings below. The dehi, the one living in the body, can rest there happily, like a calm resident watching the city go about its business. Letting go inwardly, they live at ease.
The story
Arjuna has felt trapped in his body, trembling and burning. Krishna offers a gentler image. Your body is a city you live in, not a cage. You can rest in it, watching, peaceful.
In your life
Picture someone sitting on a balcony at dusk, watching the city lights, completely at ease. Try that inwardly tonight. Sit quietly and watch your body breathe, like a calm resident in a peaceful city.
Rest in your body like a peaceful city.