Chapter 6 · 47 verses

The Yoga of Meditation (Atma Samyama Yoga) आत्मसंयमयोग

How to meditate: the seat, bringing the mind back again and again, balanced food and sleep. The mind is restless, but practice and detachment bring it under control. Even one whose effort remains incomplete is never lost.

This English meaning is newly written by Bhajan Dhun and is still being reviewed by scholars.

1. 6.1

   श्री भगवानुवाच

   अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः ।
   स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः ॥६.१॥

   The Lord said: One who does the work that ought to be done without depending on its fruit is a renunciate and a yogi — not one who merely gives up the sacred fire or activity.

2. 6.2

   यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव ।
   न ह्यसंन्यस्तसङ्कल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन ॥६.२॥

   O son of Pandu, what is called renunciation, know that to be yoga; for no one becomes a yogi without giving up selfish intentions.

3. 6.3

   आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते ।
   योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते ॥६.३॥

   For the sage wishing to climb to yoga, action is said to be the means; for the same sage who has attained yoga, calm is said to be the means.

4. 6.4

   यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते ।
   सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते ॥६.४॥

   When one is attached neither to sense objects nor to actions and has given up all selfish intentions, one is said to have attained yoga.

5. 6.5

   उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् ।
   आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥६.५॥

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

6. 6.6

   बन्धुरात्माऽऽत्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः ।
   अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥६.६॥

   For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is a friend; for one who has not, the same mind behaves like an enemy.

7. 6.7

   जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः ।
   शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः ॥६.७॥

   The self-mastered and serene person remains settled in the Supreme through cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honour and dishonour.

8. 6.8

   ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः ।
   युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ॥६.८॥

   The yogi who is content with knowledge and realisation, unshakeable, master of the senses, and who sees a clod of earth, a stone and gold as the same, is called steadfast.

9. 6.9

   सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु ।
   साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥६.९॥

   One who is even-minded towards well-wishers, friends, enemies, the indifferent, the neutral, the hateful and relatives, towards the good and the wicked alike, excels.

10. 6.10

    योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः ।
    एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः ॥६.१०॥

    A yogi should constantly fix the mind on the Supreme, staying alone in a secluded place, with body and mind controlled, free from expectations and possessions.

11. 6.11

    शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः ।
    नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् ॥६.११॥

    In a clean place, let him set up a firm seat, neither too high nor too low, covered with kusha grass, a deerskin and a cloth.

12. 6.12

    तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः ।
    उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये ॥६.१२॥

    Sitting there, making the mind one-pointed and controlling the activities of the mind and senses, let him practise yoga for self-purification.

13. 6.13

    समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः ।
    संप्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् ॥६.१३॥

    Holding body, head and neck straight and still, steady, let him gaze at the tip of the nose without looking around.

14. 6.14

    प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः ।
    मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः ॥६.१४॥

    Serene and fearless, firm in the vow of celibacy, with the mind controlled and thoughts fixed on me, let him sit devoted, with me as the supreme goal.

15. 6.15

    युञ्जन्नेवं सदाऽऽत्मानं योगी नियतमानसः ।
    शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति ॥६.१५॥

    Thus always keeping the mind fixed on the Supreme, the yogi of disciplined mind attains peace, the supreme liberation that rests in me.

16. 6.16

    नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः ।
    न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥६.१६॥

    Yoga is not for one who eats too much or not at all, O Arjuna, nor for one who sleeps too much or stays awake too long.

17. 6.17

    युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।
    युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥६.१७॥

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

18. 6.18

    यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते ।
    निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥६.१८॥

    When the disciplined mind rests in the Self alone, free from craving for all desires, one is said to be established in yoga.

19. 6.19

    यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता ।
    योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥६.१९॥

    As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker — that is the image of the yogi of controlled mind, absorbed in meditation on the Self.

20. 6.20

    यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया ।
    यत्र चैवात्मनाऽऽत्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति ॥६.२०॥

    Where the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, comes to rest, and where, seeing the Self by the self, one is content in the Self;

21. 6.21

    सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् ।
    वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः ॥६.२१॥

    where one knows that boundless joy which is beyond the senses and grasped by the pure intellect, and established in which one never moves from the truth;

22. 6.22

    यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं ततः ।
    यस्मिन्स्थितो न दुःखेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते ॥६.२२॥

    having gained which one thinks there is no greater gain, and established in which one is not shaken even by the heaviest sorrow —

23. 6.23

    तं विद्याद् दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् ।
    स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा ॥६.२३॥

    know that state, the breaking of contact with sorrow, to be yoga. This yoga should be practised with determination and an undaunted mind.

24. 6.24

    सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः ।
    मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं विनियम्य समन्ततः ॥६.२४॥

    Giving up completely all desires born of selfish intention, and restraining the senses on every side by the mind alone,

25. 6.25

    शनैः शनैरुपरमेद् बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया ।
    आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥६.२५॥

    one should gradually become still through an intellect held firm by patience; fixing the mind on the Self, one should think of nothing else.

26. 6.26

    यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् ।
    ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥६.२६॥

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

27. 6.27

    प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् ।
    उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ॥६.२७॥

    Supreme joy comes to the yogi whose mind is completely calm, whose passions are stilled, who is free from sin and has become one with Brahman.

28. 6.28

    युञ्जन्नेवं सदाऽऽत्मानं योगी विगतकल्मषः ।
    सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते ॥६.२८॥

    Thus always uniting the self with the Supreme, the yogi, free from sin, easily enjoys the boundless bliss of contact with Brahman.

29. 6.29

    सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि ।
    ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः ॥६.२९॥

    One whose self is united in yoga, seeing equally everywhere, sees the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self.

30. 6.30

    यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति ।
    तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति ॥६.३०॥

    One who sees me everywhere and sees everything in me — I am never lost to that person, nor is that person ever lost to me.

31. 6.31

    सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः ।
    सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते ॥६.३१॥

    The yogi who, established in oneness, worships me as dwelling in all beings, lives in me, however he may be living.

32. 6.32

    आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन ।
    सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं सः योगी परमो मतः ॥६.३२॥

    O Arjuna, the yogi who sees the pleasure and pain of all as equal to their own is considered the highest.

33. 6.33

    अर्जुन उवाच

    योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन ।
    एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चञ्चलत्वात् स्थितिं स्थिराम् ॥६.३३॥

    Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, because of the mind's restlessness, I do not see how this yoga of equanimity you have described can be steady.

34. 6.34

    चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् ।
    तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥६.३४॥

    For the mind, O Krishna, is restless, turbulent, strong and obstinate. I think controlling it is as hard as controlling the wind.

35. 6.35

    श्री भगवानुवाच

    असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलं ।
    अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥६.३५॥

    The Lord said: Without doubt, O mighty-armed, the mind is restless and hard to control; but, O son of Kunti, it can be controlled by practice and detachment.

36. 6.36

    असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः ।
    वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः ॥६.३६॥

    In my view, yoga is hard to attain for one whose mind is uncontrolled; but one whose mind is controlled and who strives can reach it by the right means.

37. 6.37

    अर्जुन उवाच

    अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः ।
    अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥६.३७॥

    Arjuna said: O Krishna, what becomes of one who has faith but does not strive enough, whose mind wanders from yoga, and who fails to reach perfection in yoga?

38. 6.38

    कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति ।
    अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि ॥६.३८॥

    O mighty-armed, fallen from both, without support and confused on the path to Brahman, does such a person perish like a scattered cloud?

39. 6.39

    एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः ।
    त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥६.३९॥

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

40. 6.40

    श्री भगवानुवाच

    पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते ।
    नहि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद्दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति ॥६.४०॥

    The Lord said: O Partha, there is no ruin for such a person, either in this world or the next. No one who does good, my friend, ever comes to a bad end.

41. 6.41

    प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः ।
    शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते ॥६.४१॥

    One who has fallen from yoga reaches the worlds of the virtuous, lives there for many years, and is born again in a pure and prosperous home.

42. 6.42

    अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम् ।
    एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम् ॥६.४२॥

    Or one is born into a family of wise yogis — though such a birth is very rare in this world.

43. 6.43

    तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम् ।
    यतते च ततो भूयः संसिद्धौ कुरुनन्दन ॥६.४३॥

    There one regains the understanding gained in the previous life, and strives again, even harder, for perfection, O joy of the Kurus.

44. 6.44

    पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः ।
    जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते ॥६.४४॥

    By that former practice one is carried forward, even without wishing it. Even one who merely seeks to know yoga goes beyond the ritual portion of the Vedas.

45. 6.45

    प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः ।
    अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥६.४५॥

    But the yogi who strives diligently, purified of sins and perfected over many births, reaches the supreme goal.

46. 6.46

    तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः ।
    कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन ॥६.४६॥

    The yogi is greater than the ascetics, greater even than the learned, and greater than those who perform rites for gain. Therefore, Arjuna, be a yogi.

47. 6.47

    योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना ।
    श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः ॥६.४७॥

    And of all yogis, the one who worships me with faith, with the inner self absorbed in me, is in my view the most devoted.