BHAGAVADGEETA CHAPTER 6

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 VERSE 1

श्रीभगवानुवाच | अनाश्रित: कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति य: | स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रिय: || 1||

śhrī bhagavān uvācha anāśhritaḥ karma-phalaṁ kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ sa sannyāsī cha yogī cha na niragnir na chākriyaḥ

Says the Supreme Lord: Real sanyāsīs (renunciates) and yogis are those who carry out specified responsibilities without wanting the fruits of their efforts, not just those who have stopped doing corporeal activities or sacrifices like Agnihotra yajna.

 VERSE 2

यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव | न ह्यसंन्यस्तसङ्कल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन || 2||

yaṁ sannyāsam iti prāhur yogaṁ taṁ viddhi pāṇḍava na hyasannyasta-saṅkalpo yogī bhavati kaśhchana

The term "sanyās" is the same as "yoga," since no one can become a yogi without giving up materialistic desires.

 VERSE 3

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते | योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शम: कारणमुच्यते || 3||

ārurukṣhor muner yogaṁ karma kāraṇam uchyate yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śhamaḥ kāraṇam uchyate

Work without attachment is supposed to be the means to the soul striving for Yog perfection; tranquillity in meditation is thought to be the way to the sage who has already attained Yog elevation.

 VERSE 4

यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते | सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते || 4||

yadā hi nendriyārtheṣhu na karmasv-anuṣhajjate sarva-saṅkalpa-sannyāsī yogārūḍhas tadochyate

In the science of Yog, a person is considered elevated when they have given up all desire for the results of their acts and are neither attracted to sense objects nor to actions themselves.

 VERSE 5

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् | आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: || 5||

uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ

Use your mind's power to elevate yourself rather than to diminish yourself, as the mind can be both an ally and enemy of the self.

 VERSE 6

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जित: | अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्ते तात्मैव शत्रुवत् || 6||

bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ anātmanas tu śhatrutve vartetātmaiva śhatru-vat

The mind is a friend to those who have mastery over it. The mind functions as an enemy to individuals who have not done so.

 VERSE 7

जितात्मन: प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहित: | शीतोष्णसुखदु:खेषु तथा मानापमानयो: || 7||

jitātmanaḥ praśhāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣhu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ

Beyond the duality of heat and cold, happiness and sadness, and honor and dishonor, stand the yogis who have tamed the mind. These yogis continue to be calm and unwavering in their devotion of God.

 VERSE 8

ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रिय: | युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चन: || 8||

jñāna-vijñāna-tṛiptātmā kūṭa-stho vijitendriyaḥ yukta ityuchyate yogī sama-loṣhṭāśhma-kāñchanaḥ

The yogi who has controlled their senses and is content with wisdom and discernment is unaffected by anything. To them, everything is the same, including dirt, stones, and gold.

 VERSE 9

अन्ये च बहव: शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविता:| नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणा: सर्वे युद्धविशारदा: || 9||

anye cha bahavaḥ śhūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ nānā-śhastra-praharaṇāḥ sarve yuddha-viśhāradāḥ

Also, many other great warriors, who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. They are all skilled in the art of warfare, and equipped with various kinds of weapons.

 VERSE 10

योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थित: | एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रह: || 10||

yogī yuñjīta satatam ātmānaṁ rahasi sthitaḥ ekākī yata-chittātmā nirāśhīr aparigrahaḥ

In order to achieve the state of Yog, one needs live in separately, engage in yoga continuously, maintain mental and physical control, and give up material goods and desires in order to enjoy themselves.

 VERSE 11

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मन: | नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् || 11||

śhuchau deśhe pratiṣhṭhāpya sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ nātyuchchhritaṁ nāti-nīchaṁ chailājina-kuśhottaram

In order to practice Yog, one must create an āsan (seat) in a hallowed area by overlapping a piece of cloth, a deer skin, and Kuśh grass. Neither too high nor too low is ideal for the āsan.

 VERSE 12

तत्रैकाग्रं मन: कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रिय: | उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये || 12|| समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिर: | सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् || 13||

tatraikāgraṁ manaḥ kṛitvā yata-chittendriya-kriyaḥ upaviśhyāsane yuñjyād yogam ātma-viśhuddhaye samaṁ kāya-śhiro-grīvaṁ dhārayann achalaṁ sthiraḥ samprekṣhya nāsikāgraṁ svaṁ diśhaśh chānavalokayan

With their minds focused and their body under control, the yogi sitting firmly on it should endeavor to purify the mind by controlling all thoughts and actions. It is necessary for him to maintain a rigid straight posture for the head, neck, and body while gazing at the tip of the nose.

 VERSE 14

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थित: | मन: संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्पर: || 14||

praśhāntātmā vigata-bhīr brahmachāri-vrate sthitaḥ manaḥ sanyamya mach-chitto yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ

Thus the diligent yogi must focus on Me, holding Me alone as the ultimate goal, with a calm, fearless, and unshakable mind and firm in the vow of celibacy.

 VERSE 15

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानस: | शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति || 15||

yuñjann evaṁ sadātmānaṁ yogī niyata-mānasaḥ śhāntiṁ nirvāṇa-paramāṁ mat-sansthām adhigachchhati

The yogi with a disciplined mind so attains nirvāṇ and abides in Me in ultimate serenity by continually keeping the mind focused on Me.

 VERSE 16

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नत: | न चाति स्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन || 16||

nātyaśhnatastu yogo ’sti na chaikāntam anaśhnataḥ na chāti-svapna-śhīlasya jāgrato naiva chārjuna

O Arjun, one cannot succeed in Yog if they eat excessively or insufficiently, or if they sleep excessively or insufficiently.

 VERSE 17

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु | युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दु:खहा || 17||

yuktāhāra-vihārasya yukta-cheṣhṭasya karmasu yukta-svapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā

However, Yog practitioners who practice moderation in their food and recreation, work, and sleep can alleviate all their sorrows.

 VERSE 18

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते | नि:स्पृह: सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा || 18||

yadā viniyataṁ chittam ātmanyevāvatiṣhṭhate niḥspṛihaḥ sarva-kāmebhyo yukta ityuchyate tadā

By practicing strict discipline, they are able to focus their mind on their own unwavering self-interest rather than their own selfish desires. People who are free from all sensory craving are said to be in Yog.

 VERSE 19

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता | योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मन: || 19||

yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛitā yogino yata-chittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ

A yogi's disciplined mind stays constant while meditating on the Supreme, just as a lamp in a windless region doesn't flicker.

 VERSE 20

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया | यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति || 20||

yatroparamate chittaṁ niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā yatra chaivātmanātmānaṁ paśhyann ātmani tuṣhyati

The yogi experiences inner satisfaction when his mind, freed from worldly pursuits, becomes still via yoga practice. This allows him to see the soul through a purified mind.

 VERSE 21

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् | वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वत: || 21||

sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam vetti yatra na chaivāyaṁ sthitaśh chalati tattvataḥ

When one is in that blissful condition of Yog, known as samadhi, they are experiencing ultimate, limitless divine happiness; as a result, they are never deviating from the Eternal Truth.

 VERSE 22

यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं तत: | यस्मिन्स्थितो न दु:खेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते || 22||

yaṁ labdhvā chāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vichālyate

After reaching that level, no achievement is deemed more significant. Once one is well established, they remain unfazed even throughout the most severe disaster.

 VERSE 23

तं विद्याद् दु:खसंयोगवियोगं योगसञ्ज्ञितम् | स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा || 23||

taṁ vidyād duḥkha-sanyoga-viyogaṁ yogasaṅjñitam sa niśhchayena yoktavyo yogo ’nirviṇṇa-chetasā

Yog is the state of breaking from a union with misery. It is important to do this Yog with a firm resolve and without negativity.

 VERSE 24

सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषत: | मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं विनियम्य समन्तत: || 24|| शनै: शनैरुपरमेद्बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया | आत्मसंस्थं मन: कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् || 25||

saṅkalpa-prabhavān kāmāns tyaktvā sarvān aśheṣhataḥ manasaivendriya-grāmaṁ viniyamya samantataḥ śhanaiḥ śhanair uparamed buddhyā dhṛiti-gṛihītayā ātma-sansthaṁ manaḥ kṛitvā na kiñchid api chintayet

One should completely give up all wants that come from worldly thinking and use the mind to restrict the senses on all fronts. The mind will fix itself on God and nothing else, slowly and firmly, with conviction in the intellect.

 VERSE 26

यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् | ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् || 26||

yato yato niśhcharati manaśh chañchalam asthiram tatas tato niyamyaitad ātmanyeva vaśhaṁ nayet

One should constantly bring their restless and wavering thoughts back to God, no matter where or when it wanders.

 VERSE 27

प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् | उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् || 27||

praśhānta-manasaṁ hyenaṁ yoginaṁ sukham uttamam upaiti śhānta-rajasaṁ brahma-bhūtam akalmaṣham

A yogi who perceives everything in relation to God, has a quiet mind, restrained desires, is sinless, and experiences great transcendental happiness.

 VERSE 28

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मष: | सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते || 28||

yuñjann evaṁ sadātmānaṁ yogī vigata-kalmaṣhaḥ sukhena brahma-sansparśham atyantaṁ sukham aśhnute

By merging with God, the self-controlled yogi becomes free from material contamination and attains the ultimate condition of perfect enjoyment through constant communication with the Supreme.

 VERSE 29, 30, and 31

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि | ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शन: || 29||

sarva-bhūta-stham ātmānaṁ sarva-bhūtāni chātmani īkṣhate yoga-yuktātmā sarvatra sama-darśhanaḥ

The real yogis perceive all living things in God and God in all living things with equal eyes, having united their consciousness with God.

 VERSE 30

यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति | तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति || 30||

yo māṁ paśhyati sarvatra sarvaṁ cha mayi paśhyati tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśhyāmi sa cha me na praṇaśhyati

I am never lost, and neither are they ever lost to Me, for those who see Me everywhere and see everything in Me.

 VERSE 31

सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थित: | सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते || 31||

sarva-bhūta-sthitaṁ yo māṁ bhajatyekatvam āsthitaḥ sarvathā vartamāno ’pi sa yogī mayi vartate

Even though they are involved in a variety of occupations, the yogi who has formed union with Me and worships Me as the Supreme Soul existing in all creatures, dwells exclusively in Me.

 VERSE 32

आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन | सुखं वा यदि वा दु:खं स योगी परमो मत: || 32||

ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśhyati yo ’rjuna sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ sa yogī paramo mataḥ

They are, in my opinion, ideal yogis who see the inherent equality of all living things and react to others' happiness and suffering as though they were their own.

 VERSE 33

अर्जुन उवाच | योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्त: साम्येन मधुसूदन | एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चञ्चलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थिराम् || 33||

arjuna uvācha yo ’yaṁ yogas tvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhusūdana etasyāhaṁ na paśhyāmi chañchalatvāt sthitiṁ sthirām

Arjun remarked: Because of my restless mind, I find the Yogic technique you have explained, O Madhusudan, to be unrealistic and unachievable.

 VERSE 34 and 35

चञ्चलं हि मन: कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् | तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् || 34||

chañchalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛiṣhṇa pramāthi balavad dṛiḍham tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva su-duṣhkaram

O Krishna, the mind is immensely restless, tumultuous, strong, and stubborn. It seems harder to regulate than the wind, in my opinion.

 VERSE 35

श्रीभगवानुवाच | असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् | अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते || 35||

śhrī bhagavān uvācha asanśhayaṁ mahā-bāho mano durnigrahaṁ chalam abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa cha gṛihyate

Lord Krishna said, "What you say is true, O mighty-armed son of Kunti—the mind is indeed very hard to control." But it is controllable with practice and ditachment.

 VERSE 36

असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मति: | वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायत: || 36||

asaṅyatātmanā yogo duṣhprāpa iti me matiḥ vaśhyātmanā tu yatatā śhakyo ’vāptum upāyataḥ

It is hard to achieve yog if one's thinking is uncontrolled. Those who have mastered mental control and diligently pursue Yogic perfection through appropriate methods can, however, achieve it. This is what I think.

 VERSE 37

अर्जुन उवाच | अयति: श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानस: | अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति || 37||

arjuna uvācha ayatiḥ śhraddhayopeto yogāch chalita-mānasaḥ aprāpya yoga-sansiddhiṁ kāṅ gatiṁ kṛiṣhṇa gachchhati

What is the fate of the failed yogi who starts out on the path with faith but is unable to accomplish the objective of yog in this life because of an unstable mind? Arjun asked.

 VERSE 38

कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति | अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मण: पथि || 38||

kachchin nobhaya-vibhraṣhṭaśh chhinnābhram iva naśhyati apratiṣhṭho mahā-bāho vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi

O powerful Krishna, doesn't someone who goes away from Yog lose all material and spiritual prosperity and end up dead like a broken cloud with no place in either realm?

 VERSE 39

एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषत: | त्वदन्य: संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते || 39||

etan me sanśhayaṁ kṛiṣhṇa chhettum arhasyaśheṣhataḥ tvad-anyaḥ sanśhayasyāsya chhettā na hyupapadyate

O Krishna, please entirely remove this doubt I have because only You are capable of doing so.

 VERSE 40

श्रीभगवानुवाच | पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते | न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद्दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति || 40||

śhrī bhagavān uvācha pārtha naiveha nāmutra vināśhas tasya vidyate na hi kalyāṇa-kṛit kaśhchid durgatiṁ tāta gachchhati

The Almighty declared: "Oh Parh, a follower of the spiritual path is not doomed to perish in this life or the next." Evil can never prevail over a person who aspires for God-realization, my dear friend.

 VERSE 41 and 42

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वती: समा: | शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते || 41|| अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम् | एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम् || 42||

prāpya puṇya-kṛitāṁ lokān uṣhitvā śhāśhvatīḥ samāḥ śhuchīnāṁ śhrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣhṭo ’bhijāyate atha vā yoginām eva kule bhavati dhīmatām etad dhi durlabhataraṁ loke janma yad īdṛiśham

After death, the unsuccessful yogis join the ranks of the righteous. They live there for a very long time before being reborn as an affluent and devout family on Earth. Alternatively, if their prolonged Yogic practice had caused them to become apathetic, they were born into a household that possessed heavenly knowledge. It is quite hard to have a birth like that in this world.

 VERSE 43

तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम् | यतते च ततो भूय: संसिद्धौ कुरुनन्दन || 43||

tatra taṁ buddhi-sanyogaṁ labhate paurva-dehikam yatate cha tato bhūyaḥ sansiddhau kuru-nandana

O descendant of Kurus, upon assuming such a birth, they awaken the knowledge of their past incarnations and endeavor even more to attain Yog perfection.

 VERSE 44

पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि स: | जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते || 44||

pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva hriyate hyavaśho ’pi saḥ jijñāsur api yogasya śhabda-brahmātivartate

In fact, because of their prior discipline, they find themselves drawn toward God even against their will. Such seekers naturally transcend the texts' ceremonial precepts.

 VERSE 45

प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिष: | अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम् || 45||

prayatnād yatamānas tu yogī sanśhuddha-kilbiṣhaḥ aneka-janma-sansiddhas tato yāti parāṁ gatim

When these yogis make genuine efforts to advance, the cumulative merits of numerous previous incarnations enable them to be freed from material cravings and achieve perfection in this life.

 VERSE 46

तपस्विभ्योऽधिकोयोगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपिमतोऽधिक:| कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिकोयोगी तस्माद्योगीभवार्जुन|| 46||

tapasvibhyo ’dhiko yogī jñānibhyo ’pi mato ’dhikaḥ karmibhyaśh chādhiko yogī tasmād yogī bhavārjuna

A yogi transcends the status of the jñānī (a learner), the tapasvī (ascetic), and even the karmī (ritualistic performer). Thus, O Arjun, practice being a yogi.

 VERSE 47

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना | श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मत: || 47||

yoginām api sarveṣhāṁ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā śhraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ

I regard as the highest of all yogis those whose minds are constantly fixed upon Me and who practice devotion to Me with unwavering confidence.