BG 6: Dhyāna-yoga
1
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
anāśritaḥ karma-phalaḿ
kāryaḿ karma karoti yaḥ
sa sannyāsī ca yogī ca
na niragnir na cākriyaḥ
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no duty.
2
yaḿ sannyāsam iti prāhur
yogaḿ taḿ viddhi pāṇḍava
na hy asannyasta-sańkalpo
yogī bhavati kaścana
TRANSLATION
What is called renunciation you should know to be the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, O son of Pāṇḍu, for one can never become a yogī unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification.
3
ārurukṣor muner yogaḿ
karma kāraṇam ucyate
yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva
śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate
TRANSLATION
For one who is a neophyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.
4
yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu
na karmasv anuṣajjate
sarva-sańkalpa-sannyāsī
yogārūḍhas tadocyate
TRANSLATION
A person is said to be elevated in yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities.
5
uddhared ātmanātmānaḿ
nātmānam avasādayet
ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur
ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ
TRANSLATION
One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.
6
bandhur ātmātmanas tasya
yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ
anātmanas tu śatrutve
vartetātmaiva śatru-vat
TRANSLATION
For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.
7
jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya
paramātmā samāhitaḥ
śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu
tathā mānāpamānayoḥ
TRANSLATION
For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.
8
jñāna-vijñāna-tṛptātmā
kūṭa-stho vijitendriyaḥ
yukta ity ucyate yogī
sama-loṣṭrāśma-kāñcanaḥ
TRANSLATION
A person is said to be established in self-realization and is called a yogī [or mystic] when he is fully satisfied by virtue of acquired knowledge and realization. Such a person is situated in transcendence and is self- controlled. He sees everything — whether it be pebbles, stones or gold — as the same.
9
suhṛn-mitrāry-udāsīna-
madhyastha-dveṣya-bandhuṣu
sādhuṣv api ca pāpeṣu
sama-buddhir viśiṣyate
TRANSLATION
A person is considered still further advanced when he regards honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners all with an equal mind.
10
yogī yuñjīta satatam
ātmānaḿ rahasi sthitaḥ
ekākī yata-cittātmā
nirāśīr aparigrahaḥ
TRANSLATION
A transcendentalist should always engage his body, mind and self in relationship with the Supreme; he should live alone in a secluded place and should always carefully control his mind. He should be free from desires and feelings of possessiveness.
11-12
śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiram āsanam
ātmanaḥ nāty-ucchritaḿ nāti-nīcaḿ cailājina-kuśottaram tatraikāgraḿ
manaḥ kṛtvā yata-cittendriya-kriyaḥ upaviśyāsane yuñjyād
yogam ātma-viśuddhaye
TRANSLATION
To practice yoga, one should go to a secluded place and should lay kuśa grass on the ground and then cover it with a deerskin and a soft cloth. The seat should be neither too high nor too low and should be situated in a sacred place. The yogī should then sit on it very firmly and practice yoga to purify the heart by controlling his mind, senses and activities and fixing the mind on one point.
13-14
samaḿ kāya-śiro-grīvaḿ dhārayann acalaḿ sthiraḥ
samprekṣya nāsikāgraḿ svaḿ diśaś cānavalokayan
praśāntātmā vigata-bhīr brahmacāri-vrate sthitaḥ manaḥ
saḿyamya mac-citto yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ
TRANSLATION
One should hold one's body, neck and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of the nose. Thus, with an unagitated, subdued mind, devoid of fear, completely free from sex life, one should meditate upon Me within the heart and make Me the ultimate goal of life.
15
yuñjann evaḿ sadātmānaḿ
yogī niyata-mānasaḥ
śāntiḿ nirvāṇa-paramāḿ
mat-saḿsthām adhigacchati
TRANSLATION
Thus practicing constant control of the body, mind and activities, the mystic transcendentalist, his mind regulated, attains to the kingdom of God [or the abode of Kṛṣṇa] by cessation of material existence.
16
nāty-aśnatas 'tu yogo 'sti
na caikāntam anaśnataḥ
na cāti-svapna-śīlasya
jāgrato naiva cārjuna
TRANSLATION
There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogī, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.
17
yuktāhāra-vihārasya
yukta-ceṣṭasya karmasu
yukta-svapnāvabodhasya
yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā
TRANSLATION
He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.
18
yadā viniyataḿ cittam
ātmany evāvatiṣṭhate
nispṛhaḥ sarva-kāmebhyo
yukta ity ucyate tadā
TRANSLATION
When the yogī, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence — devoid of all material desires — he is said to be well established in yoga.
19
yathā dīpo nivāta-stho
neńgate sopamā smṛtā
yogino yata-cittasya
yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ
TRANSLATION
As a lamp in a windless place does not waver, so the transcendentalist, whose mind is controlled, remains always steady in his meditation on the transcendent self.
20-23
yatroparamate cittaḿ niruddhaḿ yoga-sevayā yatra
caivātmanātmānaḿ paśyann ātmani tuṣyati sukham
ātyantikaḿ yat tad buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam
vetti yatra na caivāyaḿ sthitaś
calati tattvataḥ yaḿ labdhvā cāparaḿ
lābhaḿ manyate nādhikaḿ tataḥ yasmin
sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate
taḿ vidyād duḥkha-saḿyoga- viyogaḿ yoga-saḿjñitam
TRANSLATION
In the stage of perfection called trance, or samādhi, one's mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact.
24
sa niścayena yoktavyo
yogo 'nirviṇṇa-cetasā
sańkalpa-prabhavān kāmāḿs
tyaktvā sarvān aśeṣataḥ
manasaivendriya-grāmaḿ
viniyamya samantataḥ
TRANSLATION
One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with determination and faith and not be deviated from the path. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of mental speculation and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind.
25
śanaiḥ śanair uparamed
buddhyā dhṛti-gṛhītayā
ātma-saḿsthaḿ manaḥ kṛtvā
na kiñcid api cintayet
TRANSLATION
Gradually, step by step, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence sustained by full conviction, and thus the mind should be fixed on the self alone and should think of nothing else.
26
yato yato niścalati
manaś cañcalam asthiram
tatas tato niyamyaitad
ātmany eva vaśaḿ nayet
TRANSLATION
From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the self.
27
praśānta-manasaḿ hy enaḿ
yoginaḿ sukham uttamam
upaiti śānta-rajasaḿ
brahma-bhūtam akalmaṣam
TRANSLATION
The yogī whose mind is fixed on Me verily attains the highest perfection of transcendental happiness. He is beyond the mode of passion, he realizes his qualitative identity with the Supreme, and thus he is freed from all reactions to past deeds.
28
yuñjann evaḿ sadātmānaḿ
yogī vigata-kalmaṣaḥ
sukhena brahma-saḿsparśam
atyantaḿ sukham aśnute
TRANSLATION
Thus the self-controlled yogī, constantly engaged in yoga practice, becomes free from all material contamination and achieves the highest stage of perfect happiness in transcendental loving service to the Lord.
29
sarva-bhūta-stham ātmānaḿ
sarva-bhūtāni cātmani
īkṣate yoga-yuktātmā
sarvatra sama-darśanaḥ
TRANSLATION
A true yogī observes Me in all beings and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized person sees Me, the same Supreme Lord, everywhere.
30
yo māḿ paśyati sarvatra
sarvaḿ ca mayi paśyati
tasyāhaḿ na praṇaśyāmi
sa ca me na praṇaśyati
TRANSLATION
For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.
31
sarva-bhūta-sthitaḿ yo māḿ
bhajaty ekatvam āsthitaḥ
sarvathā vartamāno 'pi
sa yogī mayi vartate
TRANSLATION
Such a yogī, who engages in the worshipful service of the Supersoul, knowing that I and the Supersoul are one, remains always in Me in all circumstances.
32
ātmaupamyena sarvatra
samaḿ paśyati yo 'rjuna
sukhaḿ vā yadi vā duḥkhaḿ
sa yogī paramo mataḥ
TRANSLATION
He is a perfect yogī who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna!
33
arjuna uvāca
yo 'yaḿ yogas tvayā proktaḥ
sāmyena madhusūdana
etasyāhaḿ na paśyāmi
cañcalatvāt sthitiḿ sthirām
TRANSLATION
Arjuna said: O Madhusūdana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady.
34
cañcalaḿ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa
pramāthi balavad dṛḍham
tasyāhaḿ nigrahaḿ manye
vāyor iva su-duṣkaram
TRANSLATION
For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.
35
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
asaḿśayaḿ mahā-bāho
mano durnigrahaḿ calam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya
vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate
TRANSLATION
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.
36
asaḿyatātmanā yogo
duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā
śakyo 'vāptum upāyataḥ
TRANSLATION
For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by appropriate means is assured of success. That is My opinion.
37
arjuna uvāca
ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto
yogāc calita-mānasaḥ
aprāpya yoga-saḿsiddhiḿ
kāḿ gatiḿ kṛṣṇa gacchati
TRANSLATION
Arjuna said: O Kṛṣṇa, what is the destination of the unsuccessful transcendentalist, who in the beginning takes to the process of self- realization with faith but who later desists due to worldly-mindedness and thus does not attain perfection in mysticism?
38
kaccin nobhaya-vibhraṣṭaś
chinnābhram iva naśyati
apratiṣṭho mahā-bāho
vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi
TRANSLATION
O mighty-armed Kṛṣṇa, does not such a man, who is bewildered from the path of transcendence, fall away from both spiritual and material success and perish like a riven cloud, with no position in any sphere?
39
etan me saḿśayaḿ kṛṣṇa
chettum arhasy aśeṣataḥ
tvad-anyaḥ saḿśayasyāsya
chettā na hy upapadyate
TRANSLATION
This is my doubt, O Kṛṣṇa, and I ask You to dispel it completely. But for You, no one is to be found who can destroy this doubt.
40
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
pārtha naiveha nāmutra
vināśas tasya vidyate
na hi kalyāṇa-kṛt kaścid
durgatiḿ tāta gacchati
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Son of Pṛthā, a transcendentalist engaged in auspicious activities does not meet with destruction either in this world or in the spiritual world; one who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil.
41
prāpya puṇya-kṛtāḿ lokān
uṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ
śucīnāḿ śrīmatāḿ gehe
yoga-bhraṣṭo 'bhijāyate
TRANSLATION
The unsuccessful yogī, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy.
42
atha vā yoginām eva
kule bhavati dhīmatām
etad dhi durlabhataraḿ
loke janma yad īdṛśam
TRANSLATION
Or [if unsuccessful after long practice of yoga] he takes his birth in a family of transcendentalists who are surely great in wisdom. Certainly, such a birth is rare in this world.
43
tatra taḿ buddhi-saḿyogaḿ
labhate paurva-dehikam
yatate ca tato bhūyaḥ
saḿsiddhau kuru-nandana
TRANSLATION
On taking such a birth, he revives the divine consciousness of his previous life, and he again tries to make further progress in order to achieve complete success, O son of Kuru.
44
pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva
hriyate hy avaśo 'pi saḥ
jijñāsur api yogasya
śabda-brahmātivartate
TRANSLATION
By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles — even without seeking them. Such an inquisitive transcendentalist stands always above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures.
45
prayatnād yatamānas tu
yogī saḿśuddha-kilbiṣaḥ
aneka-janma-saḿsiddhas
tato yāti parāḿ gatim
TRANSLATION
And when the yogī engages himself with sincere endeavor in making further progress, being washed of all contaminations, then ultimately, achieving perfection after many, many births of practice, he attains the supreme goal.
46
tapasvibhyo 'dhiko yogī
jñānibhyo 'pi mato 'dhikaḥ
karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī
tasmād yogī bhavārjuna
TRANSLATION
A yogī is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogī.
47
yoginām api sarveṣāḿ
mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māḿ
sa me yuktatamo mataḥ
TRANSLATION
And of all yogīs, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me — he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.
