Verse 6

Tap any word for its meaning.

In plain words

One who restrains the organs of action but sits mentally dwelling on sense objects is deluded and is called a hypocrite.

Word for word

He who, having restrained the organs of action, sits recalling with the mind the objects of the senses, deluded in mind, he is called a hypocrite.

The commentators

Bhagavadgītābhāṣyam

यत्त्वनात्मज्ञः चोदितं कर्म नारभते इति तदसदेवेत्याह —

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि हस्तादीनि संयम्य संहृत्य यः आस्ते तिष्ठति मनसा स्मरन् चिन्तयन् इन्द्रियार्थान् विषयान् विमूढात्मा विमूढान्तःकरणः मिथ्याचारो मृषाचारः पापाचारः

सः उच्यते ॥ ६ ॥

In plain words

But the claim that someone who does not know the ātman will not take up the action scripture enjoins — that is simply false. And so he says:

'The organs of action' just means the hands and the rest of them. 'Having restrained' means having pulled them back, withdrawn them. But whoever sits like that, outwardly still, while the mind keeps remembering, keeps turning over the objects of the senses — that person's very self is deluded, their inner faculty deluded, and what looks like discipline is really false conduct, deceptive conduct, sinful conduct —

He is the one so called. || 6 ||

Close to the Sanskrit

But that which [is claimed] — "one who does not know the Self does not undertake the enjoined action" — that is simply untrue: thus he says —

'The organs of action' [means] the hands and so on. 'Having restrained' [means] having withdrawn [them]. Whoever sits, remains, remembering with the mind, thinking of the objects of the senses — [i.e.] the sense-objects — [such a one, being] of deluded self, of deluded inner faculty, [is one] of false conduct, [i.e.] of deceptive conduct, of sinful conduct —

He is called [so]. || 6 ||