Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 6 of 18

Dhyana Yoga

ध्यानयोग — The Yoga of Meditation · 47 verses

All 47 verses

Sanskrit, transliteration and English meaning for every verse.

1. 6.1 · Krishna

   अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः ।
   स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः ॥

   anāśritaḥ karmaphalaṃ kāryaṃ karma karoti yaḥ |
   sa saṃnyāsī ca yogī ca na niragnirna cākriyaḥ ||

   The Lord said: One who does the work that ought to be done without depending on its fruit is both a renunciant (sannyasi) and a yogi — not one who merely gives up the sacred fire, nor one who simply abstains from action.

2. 6.2 · Krishna

   यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव ।
   न ह्यसंन्यस्तसंकल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन ॥

   yaṃ saṃnyāsamiti prāhuryogaṃ taṃ viddhi pāṇḍava |
   na hyasaṃnyastasaṃkalpo yogī bhavati kaścana ||

   Know that what people call renunciation is yoga, son of Pandu; for no one becomes a yogi without renouncing self-centred intentions.

3. 6.3 · Krishna

   आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते ।
   योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते ॥

   ārurukṣormuneryogaṃ karma kāraṇamucyate |
   yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇamucyate ||

   For the sage who wishes to climb to yoga, action is said to be the means. For that same person, once established in yoga, stillness is said to be the means.

4. 6.4 · Krishna

   यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते ।
   सर्वसंकल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते ॥

   yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu na karmasvanuṣajjate |
   sarvasaṃkalpasaṃnyāsī yogārūḍhastadocyate ||

   When a person is no longer attached to the objects of the senses or to actions, and has given up every self-willed intention, then he is said to have reached the height of yoga.

5. 6.5 · Krishna · key verse

   उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् ।
   आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥

   uddharedātmanātmānaṃ nātmānamavasādayet |
   ātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ ||

   Lift yourself by your own self; do not let yourself sink. The self alone is one’s friend, and the self alone is one’s enemy.

6. 6.6 · Krishna

   बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः ।
   अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥

   bandhurātmātmanastasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ |
   anātmanastu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatruvat ||

   The self is a friend to the one whose self has been conquered by the self. But for one who has not mastered himself, his own self behaves like an enemy, full of hostility.

7. 6.7 · Krishna

   जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः ।
   शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः ॥

   jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ |
   śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ ||

   In one who has conquered himself and is at peace, the supreme Self remains steady and composed — in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honour and dishonour alike.

8. 6.8 · Krishna

   ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः ।
   युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ॥

   jñānavijñānatṛptātmā kūṭastho vijitendriyaḥ |
   yukta ityucyate yogī samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ ||

   The yogi who is fulfilled by knowledge and realisation, unshakeable as an anvil, master of the senses, to whom a clod of earth, a stone and gold are the same, is said to be truly united in yoga.

9. 6.9 · Krishna

   सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु ।
   साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥

   suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu |
   sādhuṣvapi ca pāpeṣu samabuddhirviśiṣyate ||

   Higher still is one who regards with an equal mind well-wishers, friends and foes, the indifferent and the impartial, the hateful and kinsmen, and even the virtuous and the wicked.

10. 6.10 · Krishna

    योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः ।
    एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः ॥

    yogī yuñjīta satatamātmānaṃ rahasi sthitaḥ |
    ekākī yatacittātmā nirāśīraparigrahaḥ ||

    A yogi should constantly bring his mind into union, staying in a secluded place, alone, with thought and body restrained, free from cravings and from possessions.

11. 6.11 · Krishna

    शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः ।
    नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् ॥

    śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiramāsanamātmanaḥ |
    nātyucchritaṃ nātinīcaṃ cailājinakuśottaram ||

    In a clean place he should set up a firm seat for himself, neither too high nor too low, spread with kusha grass, a deerskin and a cloth, one over the other.

12. 6.12 · Krishna

    तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः ।
    उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये ॥

    tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yatacittendriyakriyaḥ |
    upaviśyāsane yuñjyādyogamātmaviśuddhaye ||

    Seated there, making the mind one-pointed and keeping the workings of thought and senses in check, he should practise yoga to purify himself.

13. 6.13 · Krishna

    समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः ।
    सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् ॥

    samaṃ kāyaśirogrīvaṃ dhārayannacalaṃ sthiraḥ |
    samprekṣya nāsikāgraṃ svaṃ diśaścānavalokayan ||

    Holding body, head and neck erect, motionless and steady, gazing at the tip of his own nose and not looking about in any direction —

14. 6.14 · Krishna

    प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः ।
    मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः ॥

    praśāntātmā vigatabhīrbrahmacārivrate sthitaḥ |
    manaḥ saṃyamya maccitto yukta āsīta matparaḥ ||

    — serene and fearless, firm in the vow of celibacy, with the mind restrained and fixed on me, he should sit united in yoga, holding me as the highest goal.

15. 6.15 · Krishna

    युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः ।
    शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति ॥

    yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī niyatamānasaḥ |
    śāntiṃ nirvāṇaparamāṃ matsaṃsthāmadhigacchati ||

    Uniting himself in this way at all times, the yogi of disciplined mind attains the peace that rests in me and culminates in nirvana (final freedom).

16. 6.16 · Krishna

    नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः ।
    न चाति स्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥

    nātyaśnatastu yogo’sti na caikāntamanaśnataḥ |
    na cāti svapnaśīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna ||

    Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who does not eat at all; nor for one given to too much sleep, nor for one who stays awake too long, Arjuna.

17. 6.17 · Krishna

    युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।
    युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥

    yuktāhāravihārasya yuktaceṣṭasya karmasu |
    yuktasvapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkhahā ||

    For one who is moderate in food and recreation, measured in effort at work, and balanced in sleep and waking, yoga becomes the destroyer of sorrow.

18. 6.18 · Krishna

    यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते ।
    निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥

    yadā viniyataṃ cittamātmanyevāvatiṣṭhate |
    niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ityucyate tadā ||

    When the well-governed mind rests in the Self alone, without longing for any object of desire, then a person is said to be united in yoga.

19. 6.19 · Krishna

    यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता ।
    योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥

    yathā dīpo nivātastho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā |
    yogino yatacittasya yuñjato yogamātmanaḥ ||

    “A lamp in a windless place does not flicker” — that is the image used for the yogi of controlled mind who practises union with the Self.

20. 6.20 · Krishna

    यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया ।
    यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति ॥

    yatroparamate cittaṃ niruddhaṃ yogasevayā |
    yatra caivātmanātmānaṃ paśyannātmani tuṣyati ||

    When the mind, held in check by the practice of yoga, comes to rest; when, seeing the Self by the self, one is content in the Self —

21. 6.21 · Krishna

    सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद् बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् ।
    वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः ॥

    sukhamātyantikaṃ yattad buddhigrāhyamatīndriyam |
    vetti yatra na caivāyaṃ sthitaścalati tattvataḥ ||

    — when one knows that boundless happiness which the intellect can grasp but which lies beyond the senses, and, established there, never moves from the truth —

22. 6.22 · Krishna

    यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं ततः ।
    यस्मिन्स्थितो न दुःखेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते ॥

    yaṃ labdhvā cāparaṃ lābhaṃ manyate nādhikaṃ tataḥ |
    yasminsthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate ||

    — having gained which, one counts no other gain as greater, and established in which, one is not shaken even by heavy sorrow —

23. 6.23 · Krishna

    तं विद्याद्‌दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् ।
    स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा ॥

    taṃ vidyād‌duḥkhasaṃyogaviyogaṃ yogasaṃjñitam |
    sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo’nirviṇṇacetasā ||

    — know that to be what is called yoga: the breaking of the bond with sorrow. This yoga should be practised with determination and an undiscouraged heart.

24. 6.24 · Krishna

    संकल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः ।
    मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं विनियम्य समन्ततः ॥

    saṃkalpaprabhavānkāmāṃstyaktvā sarvānaśeṣataḥ |
    manasaivendriyagrāmaṃ viniyamya samantataḥ ||

    Giving up entirely all desires born of self-will, and with the mind itself reining in the whole host of senses on every side —

25. 6.25 · Krishna

    शनैः शनैरुपरमेद्‌बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया ।
    आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किंचिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥

    śanaiḥ śanairuparamed‌buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā |
    ātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiṃcidapi cintayet ||

    — one should come to stillness little by little, through an intellect held firm by resolve. Having settled the mind in the Self, one should think of nothing else at all.

26. 6.26 · Krishna

    यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् ।
    ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥

    yato yato niścarati manaścañcalamasthiram |
    tatastato niyamyaitadātmanyeva vaśaṃ nayet ||

    Wherever the fickle, unsteady mind wanders off, one should draw it back from there and bring it under the control of the Self alone.

27. 6.27 · Krishna

    प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् ।
    उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ॥

    praśāntamanasaṃ hyenaṃ yoginaṃ sukhamuttamam |
    upaiti śāntarajasaṃ brahmabhūtamakalmaṣam ||

    Supreme happiness comes to the yogi whose mind is wholly at peace, whose restlessness has subsided, who is free from taint and has become one with Brahman.

28. 6.28 · Krishna

    युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मषः ।
    सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते ॥

    yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī vigatakalmaṣaḥ |
    sukhena brahmasaṃsparśamatyantaṃ sukhamaśnute ||

    Uniting himself in this way at all times, the yogi, freed from taint, easily enjoys the boundless happiness of contact with Brahman.

29. 6.29 · Krishna

    सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि ।
    ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः ॥

    sarvabhūtasthamātmānaṃ sarvabhūtāni cātmani |
    īkṣate yogayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ ||

    One whose self is united in yoga sees the Self abiding in all beings and all beings in the Self; he sees the same everywhere.

30. 6.30 · Krishna

    यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति ।
    तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति ॥

    yo māṃ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṃ ca mayi paśyati |
    tasyāhaṃ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati ||

    Whoever sees me everywhere and sees everything in me — I am never lost to that person, and that person is never lost to me.

31. 6.31 · Krishna

    सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः ।
    सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते ॥

    sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yo māṃ bhajatyekatvamāsthitaḥ |
    sarvathā vartamāno’pi sa yogī mayi vartate ||

    The yogi who, established in oneness, worships me as dwelling in all beings lives in me, whatever his way of life.

32. 6.32 · Krishna

    आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन ।
    सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं स योगी परमो मतः ॥

    ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṃ paśyati yo’rjuna |
    sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ sa yogī paramo mataḥ ||

    One who, taking himself as the measure, sees everything equally, Arjuna — whether it brings pleasure or pain — is regarded as the highest yogi.

33. 6.33 · Arjuna

    योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन ।
    एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चञ्चलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थिराम् ॥

    yo’yaṃ yogastvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhusūdana |
    etasyāhaṃ na paśyāmi cañcalatvātsthitiṃ sthirām ||

    Arjuna said: This yoga of evenness that you have described, Madhusudana — I do not see how it can stand firm, because the mind is so restless.

34. 6.34 · Arjuna

    चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्‌दृढम् ।
    तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥

    cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad‌dṛḍham |
    tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyoriva suduṣkaram ||

    For the mind is restless, Krishna — turbulent, powerful and stubborn. I think it is as hard to hold back as the wind.

35. 6.35 · Krishna · key verse

    असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् ।
    अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥

    asaṃśayaṃ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṃ calam |
    abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate ||

    The Lord said: Without doubt, mighty-armed one, the mind is restless and hard to control. But it can be mastered by practice and detachment.

36. 6.36 · Krishna

    असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः ।
    वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः ॥

    asaṃyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ |
    vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo’vāptumupāyataḥ ||

    Yoga is hard to reach, in my view, for one who lacks self-control; but one who has mastered himself and keeps striving can attain it by the right means.

37. 6.37 · Arjuna

    अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः ।
    अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥

    ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāccalitamānasaḥ |
    aprāpya yogasaṃsiddhiṃ kāṃ gatiṃ kṛṣṇa gacchati ||

    Arjuna said: What becomes of one who has faith but does not strive enough, whose mind strays from yoga before he reaches its perfection, Krishna?

38. 6.38 · Arjuna

    कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति ।
    अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि ॥

    kaccinnobhayavibhraṣṭaśchinnābhramiva naśyati |
    apratiṣṭho mahābāho vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi ||

    Fallen from both paths, mighty-armed one, without a foothold and bewildered on the way to Brahman, does he not perish like a cloud torn apart?

39. 6.39 · Arjuna

    एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः ।
    त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥

    etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ |
    tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate ||

    Please dispel this doubt of mine completely, Krishna; for no one but you can remove it.

40. 6.40 · Krishna

    पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते ।
    न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद्‌दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति ॥

    pārtha naiveha nāmutra vināśastasya vidyate |
    na hi kalyāṇakṛtkaścid‌durgatiṃ tāta gacchati ||

    The Lord said: Son of Pritha, there is no ruin for him either in this world or in the next; for no one who does good, my friend, ever comes to a bad end.

41. 6.41 · Krishna

    प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः ।
    शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते ॥

    prāpya puṇyakṛtāṃ lokānuṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ |
    śucīnāṃ śrīmatāṃ gehe yogabhraṣṭo’bhijāyate ||

    One who has fallen from yoga reaches the worlds of the virtuous and, after dwelling there for countless years, is born in the home of the pure and prosperous.

42. 6.42 · Krishna

    अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम् ।
    एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम् ॥

    athavā yogināmeva kule bhavati dhīmatām |
    etaddhi durlabhataraṃ loke janma yadīdṛśam ||

    Or he may be born into a family of wise yogis — though such a birth is even harder to obtain in this world.

43. 6.43 · Krishna

    तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम् ।
    यतते च ततो भूयः संसिद्धौ कुरुनन्दन ॥

    tatra taṃ buddhisaṃyogaṃ labhate paurvadehikam |
    yatate ca tato bhūyaḥ saṃsiddhau kurunandana ||

    There he regains the understanding he had developed in his former body, and from there he strives once more for perfection, joy of the Kurus.

44. 6.44 · Krishna

    पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः ।
    जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते ॥

    pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva hriyate hyavaśo’pi saḥ |
    jijñāsurapi yogasya śabdabrahmātivartate ||

    Carried along by that earlier practice, he is drawn onward even without willing it. Even one who merely wishes to know yoga goes beyond the ritual word of the Vedas.

45. 6.45 · Krishna

    प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः ।
    अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥

    prayatnādyatamānastu yogī saṃśuddhakilbiṣaḥ |
    anekajanmasaṃsiddhastato yāti parāṃ gatim ||

    But the yogi who strives earnestly, cleansed of all faults and brought to perfection over many births, then reaches the supreme goal.

46. 6.46 · Krishna

    तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः ।
    कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन ॥

    tapasvibhyo’dhiko yogī jñānibhyo’pi mato’dhikaḥ |
    karmibhyaścādhiko yogī tasmādyogī bhavārjuna ||

    The yogi is greater than ascetics, considered greater even than the learned, and greater than those devoted to ritual action. Therefore be a yogi, Arjuna.

47. 6.47 · Krishna

    योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना ।
    श्रद्धावान् भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः ॥

    yogināmapi sarveṣāṃ madgatenāntarātmanā |
    śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṃ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ ||

    And of all yogis, the one who worships me with faith, his inmost self absorbed in me, I consider the most fully united with me.