Chapter 5, Verse 27
स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवोः | प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ ||५-२७||
sparśānkṛtvā bahirbāhyāṃścakṣuścaivāntare bhruvoḥ . prāṇāpānau samau kṛtvā nāsābhyantaracāriṇau ||5-27||
Meaning
5.27 Shutting out (all) external contacts and fixing the gaze between the eyrow, ealising the outgoing and incoming breaths moving within the nostrils.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Having described the goal, Krishna now turns to method, outlining the concrete practice of meditation. The seeker shuts out external sense-contacts (sparshan krtva bahih), withdrawing attention from the pull of the outer world. The gaze is steadied at a single point — between the eyebrows (antare bhruvoh) — to gather the wandering mind. And the two life-breaths, prana (outgoing) and apana (incoming), moving within the nostrils, are made even and balanced (samau krtva).
This verse, continuing into the next, grounds the Gita's lofty teaching in a practical discipline of breath and concentration. Notice how the path moves from outer to inner: first withdraw the senses, then focus the gaze, then harmonize the breath. Steadying the breath steadies the mind, for the two are intimately linked. These techniques are time-tested tools that quiet the restless mind and prepare it for the deep inwardness through which the Self is realized.
💡 Key Takeaway
Withdraw the senses, steady your gaze, and balance the breath — these simple disciplines quiet the mind for inner realization.
Related Verses
बाह्यस्पर्शेष्वसक्तात्मा विन्दत्यात्मनि यत्सुखम् | स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते ||५-२१||
bāhyasparśeṣvasaktātmā vindatyātmani yatsukham . sa brahmayogayuktātmā sukhamakṣayamaśnute ||5-21||
5.21 With the self unattached to external contacts he finds happiness in the Self; with the self engaged in the meditation of Brahman he attains to the endless happiness.
योऽन्तःसुखोऽन्तरारामस्तथान्तर्ज्योतिरेव यः | स योगी ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं ब्रह्मभूतोऽधिगच्छति ||५-२४||
yo.antaḥsukho.antarārāmastathāntarjyotireva yaḥ . sa yogī brahmanirvāṇaṃ brahmabhūto.adhigacchati ||5-24||
5.24 He who is happy within, who rejoices within, and who is illuminated within, that Yogi attains absolute freedom or Moksha, himself becoming Brahman.
यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्मुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः | विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः ||५-२८||
yatendriyamanobuddhirmunirmokṣaparāyaṇaḥ . vigatecchābhayakrodho yaḥ sadā mukta eva saḥ ||5-28||
5.28 With the senses, the mind and the intellect (ever) controlled, having liberation as his supreme goal, free from desire, fear and anger the sage is verily liberated for ever.