karmendriyāṇi saḿyamya
ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā
mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 3.7
On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control the active senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in Krishna consciousness] without attachment, he is by far superior.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Instead of becoming a pseudo transcendentalist for the sake of wanton living and sense enjoyment, it is far better to remain in one’s own business and execute the purpose of life, which is to get free from material bondage and enter into the kingdom of God. The prime svartha-gati, or goal of self-interest, is to reach Vishnu. The whole institution of varna and ashrama is designed to help us reach this goal of life. A householder can also reach this destination by regulated service in Krishna consciousness. For self-realization, one can live a controlled life, as prescribed in the shastras, and continue carrying out his business without attachment, and in that way make progress. A sincere person who follows this method is far better situated than the false pretender who adopts show-bottle spiritualism to cheat the innocent public. A sincere sweeper in the street is far better than the charlatan meditator who meditates only for the sake of making a living.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
In contrast to this, the householder (not the sannyasi), who performs scriptural actions (karma yogam) without longing for fruits of his actions (asaktah) is superior. Ramanujacarya says in this regard that he is superior to the person practicing jnana because of the impossibility of going astray.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
3.7 Consequently, he who, with aspiration to have the vision of the self, directs his senses to action according to the scriptures, such action being of the same class as those which he practised earlier, and who then begins to practise Karma Yoga, after renouncing attachment, with the senses which are naturally inclined to action — he, by reason of there being no chance of errors, excels a man following Jnana Yoga, because there is no fear of a fall in his case.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
Now Lord Krishna reveals that a person performing karma yoga, actions performed without attachment to the rewards is superior to the cheating renunciate spoken of in the previous verse. That person who performs their actions with the mind offering them to the Supreme Lord is properly performing karma yoga by which their mind gradually becomes purified and they develop spiritual knowledge.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Lord Krishna previously spoke of the pretensions of the pretenders renouncing all actions with great effort by forcefully subjugating the desires of the mind. Now to show the predominant role of the mind in influencing our thoughts He uses the word manasa remembering in mind. Karma yoga the yoga of actions is suitable according to the stage of development one is in. One should not think that karma yoga is only for the grihastas or householders because by the word manasa it is asserting that karma yoga can also be used by renunciates as well.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
So the one performing actions without attachment is the best even the married householder who gradually through his actions controls his mind and senses is far superior to such a false renunciate. By diverting the senses from sense objects by control of the mind one becomes eligible for contemplation of the self which when unattached to the desire for anything, gradually leads one to be qualified for meditation on the atma or soul. So it is clear that the discipline of karma yoga the practice of selfless actions is essential for spiritual development.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
3.7 Tu, but, on the other hand, O Arjuna; yah, one who is unenlightened and who is eligible for action; arabhate, engages in;-what does he engage in? the Lord says in answer-karma yogam, Karma-yoga; karma-indriyaih, with the organs of action, with speech, hands, etc.; niyamya, controlling; indriyani, the sense-organs; manasa, with the mind; and becoming asaktah unattached; [Here Ast; adds ‘phalabhisandhi-varjitah, free from hankering for results’.-Tr.] sah, that one; visisyate, excels the other one, the hypocrite. This being so, therefore,
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
3.7 Yas tu etc. When actions are being performed [by him], there is no loss of his knowledge. For, when the mind does not function, he does his work like a machine-man. Therefore –
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
yas tv indriyani manasa
niyamyarabhate ‘rjuna
karmendriyaih karma-yogam
asaktah sa visisyate
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
karma-indriyāṇi — the five working sense organs; saḿyamya — controlling; yaḥ — anyone who; āste — remains; manasā — by the mind; smaran — thinking of; indriya-arthān — sense objects; vimūḍha — foolish; ātmā — soul; mithyā-ācāraḥ — pretender; saḥ — he; ucyate — is called.
