कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन ।
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥
Transliteration
karmendriyani samyamya ya aste manasa smaran
indriyarthan vimudhatma mithyacarah sa ucyate
yas tv indriyani manasa niyamyarabhate 'rjuna
karmendriyaih karma-yogam asaktah sa visisyate
Translation
One who restrains the senses and organs of action, but whose mind dwells on sense objects, certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender. On the other hand, he who controls the senses by the mind and engages his active organs in works of devotion, without attachment, is by far superior.
Purport
In earlier 2 Shlokas Bhagvan Shri Krishna explained Arjuna that Karma is such an essential part of the living universe that it is not possible for any living being to exist even a moment without doing something.
Bhagvan Shri Krishna explains in these Shlokas that the definition of engagement and renunciation from the material world. Bhagvan Shri Krishna is given two different examples to clarify the same.
A person, who thinks that doing something he is engaging with the material world, is actually wrong. He might leave doing something by his senses, but his mind dwells in the material world, he desires for something from this world and hence automatically bounded to this world. So even if physically he appears to be practicing renunciation he is actually deeply bounded to this material world.
On the other hand, another person who performs his duties serves his family and society every day but does not desire anything for himself. He engages his senses, his mind into the tasks which benefit other living beings in real sense practice renunciation (The Sanyas) and is superior. He may appear to be engaged in the material world but in reality, he is the truly renounced one.
Therefore this is erroneous for anybody to run away from his duties. Even if one wants to practice the renunciation (Sanyas) the path of the same goes through Karma only.
What we see in these verses is the gem of secrets of Karma Yoga and real renunciation. Understanding these shlokas are of special significance for people in present society cause most of us are indulge in action related task.
