Chapter 6 : Dhyana Yoga – अध्याय ६: ध्यानयोग

Sri Bhagavan said: One who performs the work that ought to be done, without seeking the fruit of action, is a renunciant and a yogi, not one who is without fire or without action.

Sri Bhagavan said: He who, without seeking the fruit of action, performs the work that ought to be done, is a renunciant and a yogi, not one who merely renounces fire, nor one who merely renounces action. ॥ 1 ॥

That which is called renunciation, know that to be yoga, O Pandava; for no one becomes a yogi who has not renounced संकल्प (saṅkalpa, desire or intention).

O Arjuna! Know that which is called renunciation to be yoga; for no one who has not renounced desires becomes a yogi. ॥ 2 ॥

For a sage who wishes to attain to yoga, action is said to be the means; for the same person, when he is established in yoga, serenity is said to be the means.

For a man of contemplation who desires to attain yoga, action without desire is said to be the means; and for the same man, when he is established in yoga, the absence of all desires is said to be the means to welfare. ॥ 3 ॥

When one is not attached to sense objects or to actions, having renounced all desires, then he is said to be established in yoga.

When one is not attached to sense objects or to actions, having renounced all desires, then he is said to be established in yoga. ॥ 4 ॥

Let a man lift himself by his own Self alone, let him not lower himself; for he himself is his friend, and he himself is his enemy. ॥

Let a man lift himself by his own Self alone, let him not lower himself; for this man is his own friend, and he is his own enemy. ॥ 5 ॥

The Self is the friend of the self-controlled, but to the uncontrolled, the Self is the enemy.

The Self is the friend of the self-controlled, by whom the body, along with the mind and senses, has been conquered; but to him who has not conquered his Self, that Self acts as an enemy. ॥ 6 ॥

The Supreme Self of one who has conquered himself and is peaceful is ever steadfast, whether in cold or heat, pleasure or pain, honor or dishonor.

The Supreme Self of one who has conquered himself and is peaceful is ever steadfast, whether in cold or heat, pleasure or pain, honor or dishonor. ॥ 7 ॥

He who is satisfied with knowledge and discrimination, who is unchanging and has conquered his senses, to whom a clod, a stone, and gold are the same, is said to be steadfast in yoga.

He whose inner being is satisfied with knowledge and discrimination, who is unchanging, who has conquered his senses, and to whom a clod, a stone, and gold are the same, is said to be steadfast in yoga, that is, he has attained God. ॥ 8 ॥

He excels who has equal regard for well-wishers, friends, foes, the indifferent, neutrals, the hateful, relatives, the righteous, and the unrighteous.

 He who has equal regard for well-wishers, friends, foes, the indifferent, neutrals, the hateful, relatives, the righteous, and the unrighteous, excels. ॥ 9 ॥

Let the yogi constantly apply himself to yoga, remaining in a secluded place, alone, with his mind and body controlled, free from hope and greed.

Let the yogi, controlling his mind and body, remain constantly in a secluded place, alone, free from hope and greed, and apply himself to yoga. ॥ 10 ॥

In a clean place, having established a firm seat for himself, neither too high nor too low, covered with a cloth, a deerskin, and kusha grass, one over the other,

In a clean place, having established a firm seat for himself, neither too high nor too low, covered with kusha grass, a deerskin, and a cloth, one over the other – ॥ 11 ॥

there, seated on the seat, making his mind one-pointed, controlling his thoughts and senses, let him practice yoga for self-purification.

There, seated on the seat, making his mind one-pointed, controlling his thoughts and senses, let him practice yoga for self-purification. ॥ 12 ॥

Holding his body, head, and neck erect and still, gazing at the tip of his nose, without looking around,

Holding his body, head, and neck erect and still, gazing at the tip of his nose, without looking around, ॥ 13 ॥

tranquil-minded, free from fear, steadfast in the vow of brahmacharya, controlling the mind, thinking of Me, let him sit steadfast, intent on Me.

 Tranquil-minded, free from fear, steadfast in the vow of brahmacharya, the careful yogi, controlling the mind, thinking of Me and intent on Me, should sit steadfast. ॥ 14 ॥

Thus, constantly applying himself to yoga, the yogi, with his mind controlled, attains to the peace that abides in Me, the supreme bliss.

Thus, constantly applying himself to yoga, the yogi, with his mind controlled, attains to the peace that abides in Me, the supreme bliss. ॥ 15 ॥

Yoga is not for him who eats too much, nor for him who abstains altogether from eating, nor for him who sleeps too much, nor for him who is ever awake, O Arjuna.

O Arjuna! Yoga is not for him who eats too much, nor for him who abstains altogether from eating, nor for him who sleeps too much, nor for him who is ever awake. ॥ 16 ॥

Yoga destroys sorrow for him who is moderate in eating and recreation, who is moderate in exertion in actions, and who is moderate in sleep and wakefulness.

Yoga destroys sorrow for him who is moderate in eating and recreation, who is moderate in exertion in actions, and who is moderate in sleep and wakefulness. ॥ 17 ॥

When the mind, perfectly controlled, is established in the Self alone, free from longing for all desires, then he is said to be steadfast in yoga.

When the mind, perfectly controlled, is established in the Self alone, free from longing for all desires, then he is said to be steadfast in yoga. ॥ 18 ॥

As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, that is the simile used for the yogi whose mind is controlled, practicing yoga in the Self.

As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, that is the simile used for the yogi whose mind is controlled, practicing yoga in the Self. ॥ 19 ॥

When the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, is stilled, and when, seeing the Self by the Self, he is satisfied in his own Self,

When the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, is stilled, and when, seeing the Self by the Self, he is satisfied in his own Self, ॥ 20 ॥

when he knows that infinite bliss which is perceived by the intellect and is beyond the senses, and established wherein, he moves not from the Reality,

when he knows that infinite bliss which is perceived by the intellect and is beyond the senses, and established wherein, he moves not from the Reality, ॥ 21 ॥

having obtained which, he thinks there is no other gain superior to it, and wherein established, he is not shaken even by heavy sorrow,

having obtained which, he thinks there is no other gain superior to it, and wherein established, he is not shaken even by heavy sorrow, ॥ 22 ॥

that should be known as yoga, the severance from union with sorrow. This yoga should be practiced with determination and with an unwearied mind.

that should be known as yoga, the severance from union with sorrow. This yoga should be practiced with determination and with an unwearied mind. ॥ 23 ॥

Abandoning without reserve all desires born of संकल्प (saṅkalpa, desire or intention), and completely restraining the whole group of senses by the mind from all sides,

Abandoning without reserve all desires born of desire, and completely restraining the whole group of senses by the mind from all sides, – ॥ 24 ॥

little by little let him attain to quietude by the intellect held firmly; fixing the mind on the Self, let him not think of anything.

little by little let him attain to quietude by the intellect held firmly; fixing the mind on the Self, let him not think of anything. ॥ 25 ॥

Whenever the restless and unsteady mind wanders away, let him restrain it and bring it back to the control of the Self alone.

Whenever the restless and unsteady mind wanders away, let him restrain it and bring it back to the control of the Self alone. ॥ 26 ॥

Supreme bliss comes to this yogi whose mind is peaceful, whose passions are subdued, who is sinless, and who is one with Brahman.

Supreme bliss comes to this yogi whose mind is peaceful, whose passions are subdued, who is sinless, and who is one with Brahman. ॥ 27 ॥

Thus, constantly applying himself to yoga, the yogi, freed from sin, easily enjoys the infinite bliss of contact with Brahman.

Thus, constantly applying himself to yoga, the yogi, freed from sin, easily enjoys the infinite bliss of contact with Brahman. ॥ 28 ॥

He who is steadfast in yoga sees the Self abiding in all beings and all beings in the Self; everywhere he sees the same.

He who is steadfast in yoga sees the Self abiding in all beings and all beings in the Self; everywhere he sees the same. ॥ 29 ॥

He who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am not lost to him, nor is he lost to Me.

He who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am not lost to him, nor is he lost to Me. ॥ 30 ॥

He who, established in oneness, worships Me abiding in all beings, that yogi lives in Me, whatever his mode of life.

He who, established in oneness, worships Me abiding in all beings, that yogi lives in Me, whatever his mode of life. ॥ 31 ॥

He who, through the likeness of himself, O Arjuna, sees equality everywhere, whether in pleasure or in pain, he is considered the highest yogi.

He who, through the likeness of himself, O Arjuna, sees equality everywhere, whether in pleasure or in pain, he is considered the highest yogi. ॥ 32 ॥

Arjuna said: This yoga which You have declared to be evenness of mind, O Madhusudana, I do not see how it can steadily endure, because of restlessness.

Arjuna said: This yoga which You have declared to be evenness of mind, O Madhusudana, I do not see how it can steadily endure, because of restlessness. ॥ 33 ॥

For the mind, O Krishna, is restless, impetuous, strong, and stubborn; I deem it as difficult to control as the wind.

For the mind, O Krishna, is restless, impetuous, strong, and stubborn; I deem it as difficult to control as the wind. ॥ 34 ॥

Sri Bhagavan said: Without doubt, O mighty-armed, the mind is restless and hard to control; but by practice and detachment, O son of Kunti, it may be restrained.

Sri Bhagavan said: Without doubt, O mighty-armed, the mind is restless and hard to control; but by practice and detachment, O son of Kunti, it may be restrained. ॥ 35 ॥

Yoga, I think, is hard to attain by one of uncontrolled self; but by the self-controlled it can be reached by striving through proper means.

Yoga, I think, is hard to attain by one of uncontrolled self; but by the self-controlled it can be reached by striving through proper means. ॥ 36 ॥

Arjuna said: He who is not self-controlled, but is endowed with faith, and whose mind wanders away from yoga, what becomes of him, O Krishna, failing to attain perfection in yoga?

Arjuna said: He who is not self-controlled, but is endowed with faith, and whose mind wanders away from yoga, what becomes of him, O Krishna, failing to attain perfection in yoga? ॥ 37 ॥

Does he not, fallen from both, perish like a rent cloud, without support, deluded in the path to Brahman, O mighty-armed?

Does he not, fallen from both, perish like a rent cloud, without support, deluded in the path to Brahman, O mighty-armed? ॥ 38 ॥

This doubt of mine, O Krishna, do You completely dispel; for none other than You can be found to destroy this doubt.

This doubt of mine, O Krishna, do You completely dispel; for none other than You can be found to destroy this doubt. ॥ 39 ॥

Sri Bhagavan said: O Partha, there is no destruction for him, either in this world or the next; for no one who does good, My son, ever treads the path of woe.

Sri Bhagavan said: O Partha, there is no destruction for him, either in this world or the next; for no one who does good, My son, ever treads the path of woe. ॥ 40 ॥

Having attained to the worlds of the righteous and dwelt there for countless years, he who fell from yoga is reborn in a pure and prosperous family.

Having attained to the worlds of the righteous and dwelt there for countless years, he who fell from yoga is reborn in a pure and prosperous family. ॥ 41 ॥

Or he may be born in a family of wise yogis; but such a birth as that is exceedingly hard to obtain in this world.

Or he may be born in a family of wise yogis; but such a birth as that is exceedingly hard to obtain in this world. ॥ 42 ॥

There he regains the knowledge acquired in his former life, and strives again for perfection, O son of the Kurus.

There he regains the knowledge acquired in his former life, and strives again for perfection, O son of the Kurus. ॥ 43 ॥

By that very former practice he is carried on, even in spite of himself. Even he who merely wishes to know yoga rises superior to the performer of Vedic rites.

By that very former practice he is carried on, even in spite of himself. Even he who merely wishes to know yoga rises superior to the performer of Vedic rites. ॥ 44 ॥

But the yogi who strives with assiduity, purified of sins, perfected through many births, reaches the supreme goal.

But the yogi who strives with assiduity, purified of sins, perfected through many births, reaches the supreme goal. ॥ 45 ॥

The yogi is superior to ascetics, superior to men of knowledge, and superior to men of action; therefore, O Arjuna, be a yogi.

The yogi is superior to ascetics, superior to men of knowledge, and superior to men of action; therefore, O Arjuna, be a yogi. ॥ 46 ॥

And among all yogis, he who, full of faith, worships Me, with his inner Self abiding in Me, him do I hold to be the most devout.

And among all yogis, he who, full of faith, worships Me, with his inner Self abiding in Me, him do I hold to be the most devout. ॥ 47 ॥

Om Tat Sat iti Srimad Bhagavadgitasupanisatsu Brahmavidyayam Yogasastre Sri Krishnaarjunasamvade Atmasanyamayogo Nama Sasthodhyayah ॥ 6 ॥