Chapter 6

Dhyana Yoga

ध्यान योग

Total Shlokas: 47Sanskrit + English Meaning

Shloka 1

श्री भगवानुवाच।
अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः।
स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः।।6.1।।

Show Meaning

Krishna defines a true Sannyasi and Yogi: One who performs prescribed duty without depending on the fruits of action is the real renunciate and yogi — not the one who merely gives up rituals or activity.

Shloka 2

यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव।
न ह्यसंन्यस्तसङ्कल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन।।6.2।।

Show Meaning

What is called renunciation is the same as Yoga, for no one can become a yogi without renouncing selfish motives. True yoga requires the abandonment of personal desires and calculations.

Shloka 3

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते।
योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते।।6.3।।

Show Meaning

For a sage who wishes to ascend to yoga, action is the means. For one who has already attained yoga, serenity and cessation of activity become the means. The path evolves as the seeker grows.

Shloka 4

यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते।
सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते।।6.4।।

Show Meaning

When one has no attachment to sense objects or to actions, and has renounced all personal will, one is said to have ascended to the heights of yoga.

Shloka 5

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः।।6.5।।

Show Meaning

One must elevate oneself by one's own mind, not degrade oneself. The mind alone is the friend of the soul, and the mind alone is the enemy of the soul. We are each responsible for our own spiritual progress.

Shloka 6

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः।
अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्।।6.6।।

Show Meaning

For one who has conquered the mind, it is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, the mind acts as the greatest enemy.

Shloka 7

जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः।
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः।।6.7।।

Show Meaning

For one who has conquered the mind and is peaceful, the Supreme Self is already reached. Such a person remains equipoised in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor.

Shloka 8

ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः।
युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः।।6.8।।

Show Meaning

A yogi is said to be established in self-realization when content with knowledge and wisdom, undisturbed, with senses mastered, seeing a lump of earth, stone, and gold as equal.

Shloka 9

सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु।
साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते।।6.9।।

Show Meaning

One who regards with equal mind well-wishers, friends, enemies, the indifferent, the neutral, the hateful, relatives, saints, and sinners — that person excels in spiritual life.

Shloka 10

योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः।
एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः।।6.10।।

Show Meaning

A yogi should constantly engage the mind in meditation, dwelling in solitude, alone, with mind and body controlled, free from desires and possessiveness.

Shloka 11

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः।
नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्।।6.11।।

Show Meaning

In a clean spot, having established a firm seat for oneself — not too high nor too low, covered with cloth, deerskin, and kusha grass — one should prepare for meditation.

Shloka 12

तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः।
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये।।6.12।।

Show Meaning

There, seated on that seat, making the mind one-pointed with thoughts and activities of the senses under control, one should practice yoga for self-purification.

Shloka 13

समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः।
सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्।।6.13।।

Show Meaning

Holding the body, head, and neck erect, still, and steady, gazing at the tip of one's own nose without looking in other directions — this describes the proper posture for meditation.

Shloka 14

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः।
मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः।।6.14।।

Show Meaning

Serene, fearless, firm in the vow of celibacy, with the mind controlled and fixed on the Supreme — the meditator should sit, regarding the Lord as the supreme goal.

Shloka 15

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः।
शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति।।6.15।।

Show Meaning

Thus, constantly keeping the mind absorbed in the Supreme, the yogi of subdued mind attains supreme peace and liberation, which abide in the Lord.

Shloka 16

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः।
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन।।6.16।।

Show Meaning

However, yoga is not possible for one who eats too much or too little, sleeps too much or stays awake too long. Balance and moderation are essential prerequisites for meditation.

Shloka 17

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा।।6.17।।

Show Meaning

For one who is moderate in eating, recreation, work, sleep, and wakefulness, yoga becomes the destroyer of all suffering. The middle path eliminates the obstacles to meditation.

Shloka 18

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते।
निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा।।6.18।।

Show Meaning

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

Shloka 19

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता।
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः।।6.19।।

Show Meaning

As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker — this is the classic comparison for the disciplined mind of a yogi who is practicing meditation on the Self.

Shloka 20

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया।
यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति।।6.20।।

Show Meaning

When the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, becomes still, and when beholding the Self by the self, one is satisfied in the Self alone.

Shloka 21

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम्।
वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः।।6.21।।

Show Meaning

In that state, one experiences infinite, transcendental happiness perceived through the purified intellect beyond the reach of the senses. Established in this, one never departs from the truth.

Shloka 22

यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं ततः।
यस्मिन्स्थितो न दुःखेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते।।6.22।।

Show Meaning

Upon gaining this state, one considers no other gain to be greater. Established therein, one is not shaken even by the heaviest of sorrows. This is the state worth striving for above all else.

Shloka 23

तं विद्याद्दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम्।
स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा।।6.23।।

Show Meaning

Let that state of severance from the union with sorrow be known as yoga. This yoga should be practiced with determination and without mental discouragement.

Shloka 24

सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः।
मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं विनियम्य समन्ततः।।6.24।।

Show Meaning

Abandoning without exception all desires born of selfish will, and completely restraining the entire group of senses by the mind from all sides, one should prepare for meditation.

Shloka 25

शनैः शनैरुपरमेद्बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया।
आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत्।।6.25।।

Show Meaning

Gradually, step by step, with full conviction, the intellect should be settled in the Self. Making the mind established in the Self, one should think of nothing else.

Shloka 26

यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम्।
ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत्।।6.26।।

Show Meaning

Whenever and wherever the restless, unsteady mind wanders off, one should bring it back and fix it on the Self. Patient, persistent practice is the way.

Shloka 27

प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम्।
उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम्।।6.27।।

Show Meaning

Supreme bliss comes to the yogi whose mind is peaceful, whose passions are calmed, who is free from sin, and who has become one with Brahman.

Shloka 28

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मषः।
सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते।।6.28।।

Show Meaning

Thus, constantly engaging the mind in yoga, the yogi free from sin easily attains the infinite bliss of contact with Brahman.

Shloka 29

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि।
ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः।।6.29।।

Show Meaning

The true yogi, united in identity with all, sees the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self, seeing the same everywhere. This is the vision of universal oneness.

Shloka 30

यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति।
तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति।।6.30।।

Show Meaning

For one who sees Krishna everywhere and sees everything in Krishna, Krishna is never lost to them, nor are they ever lost to Krishna. This is the most intimate relationship with the Divine.

Shloka 31

सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः।
सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते।।6.31।।

Show Meaning

One who worships Krishna as present in all beings, established in unity, lives in Krishna regardless of the way of living. Such a yogi is always connected with the Divine.

Shloka 32

आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन।
सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं स योगी परमो मतः।।6.32।।

Show Meaning

Arjuna, that yogi is considered the highest who judges the pleasure and pain of all beings by the same standard as they would apply to themselves — the golden rule of spiritual life.

Shloka 33

अर्जुन उवाच।
योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन।
एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चञ्चलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थिराम्।।6.33।।

Show Meaning

Arjuna confesses his doubt: Due to the restlessness of the mind, he does not see how this yoga of equanimity can be steadily maintained.

Shloka 34

चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम्।
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम्।।6.34।।

Show Meaning

Arjuna describes the mind as restless, turbulent, powerful, and obstinate. He considers controlling it to be as difficult as controlling the wind.

Shloka 35

श्री भगवानुवाच।
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्।
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते।।6.35।।

Show Meaning

Krishna agrees: The mind is undoubtedly restless and difficult to control. However, through practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya), it can be restrained.

Shloka 36

असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः।
वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः।।6.36।।

Show Meaning

Krishna acknowledges that yoga is difficult for one whose mind is uncontrolled. But for one who strives with a disciplined mind and uses proper methods, it is attainable.

Shloka 37

अर्जुन उवाच।
अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः।
अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति।।6.37।।

Show Meaning

Arjuna asks: What happens to a person who has faith but fails to achieve perfection in yoga? Does such a person, falling from both paths, perish like a scattered cloud?

Shloka 38

कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति।
अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि।।6.38।।

Show Meaning

Arjuna fears that one who strays from both paths — worldly success and spiritual attainment — might be completely lost, without support, confused on the path to Brahman.

Shloka 39

एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः।
त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते।।6.39।।

Show Meaning

Arjuna asks Krishna to completely dispel this doubt, for no one other than Krishna is capable of resolving it.

Shloka 40

श्री भगवानुवाच।
पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते।
न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद्दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति।।6.40।।

Show Meaning

Krishna reassures: Neither in this world nor in the next is there destruction for one who does good. No one who strives for righteousness ever comes to a bad end. This is Krishna's guarantee.

Shloka 41

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः।
शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते।।6.41।।

Show Meaning

The unsuccessful yogi, after enjoying the heavenly realms for many years, takes birth in a pure and prosperous family. Spiritual effort is never wasted.

Shloka 42

अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम्।
एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम्।।6.42।।

Show Meaning

Or, such a yogi may be born into a family of wise yogis. Such a birth is extremely rare and precious in this world.

Shloka 43

तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम्।
यतते च ततो भूयः संसिद्धौ कुरुनन्दन।।6.43।।

Show Meaning

In that birth, the yogi regains the spiritual wisdom from the previous life and strives even more earnestly for perfection. Past spiritual progress serves as a springboard.

Shloka 44

पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः।
जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते।।6.44।।

Show Meaning

By that previous practice alone, one is irresistibly drawn towards yoga. Even a seeker of yoga transcends the ritualistic principles of the scriptures. The momentum of past practice continues automatically.

Shloka 45

प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः।
अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम्।।6.45।।

Show Meaning

The yogi who strives with great effort, cleansed of all impurities, and perfected through many births, ultimately reaches the supreme goal. Persistence across lifetimes guarantees success.

Shloka 46

तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः।
कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन।।6.46।।

Show Meaning

A yogi is superior to an ascetic, superior to a scholar, and superior to a ritualist. Therefore, Arjuna, be a yogi in all circumstances.

Shloka 47

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना।
श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः।।6.47।।

Show Meaning

Of all yogis, the one who worships Krishna with great faith, with the inner self absorbed in Him, is considered the most intimately united with the Lord. Devotion is the highest form of yoga.

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