Bhagavad Gita 3.7
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन । कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥
yas tv indriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate 'rjuna | karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate ||
Translation
But he, O Arjuna, who, restraining his senses by his mind, engages with the organs of action in performing action without attachment, is much superior.
Reflection
What grip would you have to drop to do the same work without dragging it behind you?
Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Three
The order matters. First restrain the senses with the mind. Then engage the organs in action. The mind goes first because the mind is what was leaking in the previous verse. Asakta, unattached: not indifferent, not absent. Free of the sticky grip that turns a deed into a debt. Engaged hands, ungrabbing mind. Aurobindo notes that this is the practical teaching: not less action, but action freed of the part of you that was working for the wrong reason. The same fight, the same arrow, the same target. Different operator behind the bow.