Verse 5-13

“The embodied being who is detached resides happily within the city of nine gates, free from thoughts that he is the doer or the cause of anything”

Commentary : As spatial beings, we inhabit temporary physical bodies to engage with desires and entangle ourselves with karma. Picture the body as a kingdom with nine gates (नवद्वारे) – two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, one mouth and two gates for excretion. The yogi who masters these gates resides contentedly on the throne of the brain, co-dreaming the universe with God. The number nine holds both a mathematical mystery and spiritual significance. For instance, here are a few: a) Multiples of 9: there are 27 constellations in the galaxy and each one has 4 directions, so 108 forms our entire universe. Divide this by 9, there are 12 zodiacs or astrological houses around which the sun revolves in turn causing 12 months of solar year for Earth b) it is the highest single digit before starting or ending in zero or shunya, referring symbolically to the culmination of a human entering into that state of consciousness which is both his origin and destination, c) it is referred as the number of Brahma, the Creator, d) multiply 9 with any number and add the digits, you get 9 again e) it is a triad of triads representing 3X3, which a perfect number of completion and fulfillment. There are other references in many cultures – navarasās, navarātri, nine celestial abodes of navagrahās and the symbol of wisdom and Dharma embedded in the ninth astrological house, nine gems, nine Āgamas, nine stages of Bhakti, nine Gods of Egypt, nine orders of angels, navaratnās, nava dhānya, nine varshās of Jambu dveepa, importance of Akshaya Navami, Sri Rāma Navami and many more. The devotee takes control of the body through scientific yoga, devotion and detachment to the fruits of actions. Once the devotee sits firmly on the throne of the bodily kingdom, he surrenders completely to God letting Him work through his body, mind and heart.