Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā — Chapter 6

01

śrībhagavānuvācha ।

anāśritaḥ karmaphalaṃ kāryaṃ karma karōti yaḥ ।
sa sannyāsī cha yōgī cha na niragnirna chākriyaḥ ॥ 1 ॥

The Blessed Lord said:

He that performeth such action as his duty, independently of the fruit of action, he is an ascetic, he is a Yogî, not he that is without fire, and without rites.

02

yaṃ sannyāsamiti prāhuryōgaṃ taṃ viddhi pāṇḍava ।
na hyasannyastasaṅkalpō yōgī bhavati kaśchana ॥ 2 ॥

That which is called renunciation, know thou that as yoga, O Pândava; nor doth any one become a Yogî with the formative will unrenounced.

03

ārurukṣōrmunēryōgaṃ karma kāraṇamuchyatē ।
yōgārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇamuchyatē ॥ 3 ॥

For a Sage who is seeking Yoga, action is called the means; for the same Sage, when he is enthroned in yoga, serenity is called the means.

04

yadā hi nēndriyārthēṣu na karmasvanuṣajjatē ।
sarvasaṅkalpasannyāsī yōgārūḍhastadōchyatē ॥ 4 ॥

When a man feeleth no attachment either for the objects of sense or for actions, renouncing the formative will, then, he is said to be enthroned in yoga.

05

uddharēdātmanātmānaṃ nātmānamavasādayēt ।
ātmaiva hyātmanō bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ ॥ 5 ॥

Let him raise the self by the Self and not let the self become depressed; for verily is the Self the friend of the self, and also the Self the self's enemy;

06

bandhurātmātmanastasya yēnātmaivātmanā jitaḥ ।
anātmanastu śatrutvē vartētātmaiva śatruvat ॥ 6 ॥

The Self is the friend of the self of him in whom the self by the Self is vanquished; but to the unsubdued self the Self verily becometh hostile as an enemy.

07

jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ ।
śītōṣṇasukhaduḥkhēṣu tathā mānāpamānayōḥ ॥ 7 ॥

The higher Self of him who is Self-controlled and peaceful is uniform in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, as well as in honour and dishonour.

08

jñānavijñānatṛptātmā kūṭasthō vijitēndriyaḥ ।
yukta ityuchyatē yōgī samalōṣṭāśmakāñchanaḥ ॥ 8 ॥

The Yogî who is satisfied with wisdom and knowledge, unwavering, whose senses are subdued, to whom a lump of earth, a stone and gold are the same, is said to be harmonised.

09

suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadvēṣyabandhuṣu ।
sādhuṣvapi cha pāpēṣu samabuddhirviśiṣyatē ॥ 9 ॥

He who regards impartially lovers, friends, and foes, strangers, neutrals, foreigners and relatives, also the righteous and unrighteous, he excelleth.

10

yōgī yuñjīta satatamātmānaṃ rahasi sthitaḥ ।
ēkākī yatachittātmā nirāśīraparigrahaḥ ॥ 10 ॥

Let the Yogî constantly engage himself in yoga, remaining in a secret place by himself, with thought and self subdued, free from hope and greed.

11

śuchau dēśē pratiṣṭhāpya sthiramāsanamātmanaḥ ।
nātyuchChritaṃ nātinīchaṃ chailājinakuśōttaram ॥ 11 ॥

In a pure place, established on a fixed seat of his own, neither very much raised nor very low, made of a cloth, a black antelope skin, and kusha grass, one over the other;

12

tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yatachittēndriyakriyaḥ ।
upaviśyāsanē yuñjyādyōgamātmaviśuddhayē ॥ 12 ॥

There, having made the mind one-pointed, with thought and the functions of the senses subdued, steady on his seat, he should practise yoga for the purification of the self.

13

samaṃ kāyaśirōgrīvaṃ dhārayannachalaṃ sthiraḥ ।
samprēkṣya nāsikāgraṃ svaṃ diśaśchānavalōkayan ॥ 13 ॥

Holding the body, head and neck erect, immovably steady, looking fixedly at the point of the nose, with unseeing gaze,

14

praśāntātmā vigatabhīrbrahmachārivratē sthitaḥ ।
manaḥ saṃyamya machchittō yukta āsīta matparaḥ ॥ 14 ॥

The self serene, fearless, firm in the vow of the Brahmachâri, the mind controlled, thinking on Me, harmonised, let him sit aspiring after Me.

15

yuñjannēvaṃ sadātmānaṃ yōgī niyatamānasaḥ ।
śāntiṃ nirvāṇaparamāṃ matsaṃsthāmadhigachChati ॥ 15 ॥

The Yogî ever united thus with the Self, with the mind controlled, goeth to Peace, to the supreme Bliss that abideth in Me.

16

nātyaśnatastu yōgō'sti na chaikāntamanaśnataḥ ।
na chātisvapnaśīlasya jāgratō naiva chārjuna ॥ 16 ॥

Verily yoga is not for him who eateth too much, nor who abstaineth to excess, nor who is too much addicted to sleep, nor even to wakefulness, O Arjuna.

17

yuktāhāravihārasya yuktachēṣṭasya karmasu ।
yuktasvapnāvabōdhasya yōgō bhavati duḥkhahā ॥ 17 ॥

Yoga killeth out all pain for him who is regulated in eating and amusement, regulated in performing actions, regulated in sleeping and waking.

18

yadā viniyataṃ chittamātmanyēvāvatiṣṭhatē ।
niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmēbhyō yukta ityuchyatē tadā ॥ 18 ॥

When his subdued thought is fixed on the Self, free from longing after all desirable things, then it is said, "he is harmonised."

19

yathā dīpō nivātasthō nēṅgatē sōpamā smṛtā ।
yōginō yatachittasya yuñjatō yōgamātmanaḥ ॥ 19 ॥

As a lamp in a windless place flickereth not, to such is likened the Yogî of subdued thought, absorbed in the yoga of the Self.

20

yatrōparamatē chittaṃ niruddhaṃ yōgasēvayā ।
yatra chaivātmanātmānaṃ paśyannātmani tuṣyati ॥ 20 ॥

That in which the mind finds rest, quieted by the practice of yoga: that in which he, seeing the Self by the Self, in the Self is satisfied;

21

sukhamātyantikaṃ yattadbuddhigrāhyamatīndriyam ।
vētti yatra na chaivāyaṃ sthitaśchalati tattvataḥ ॥ 21 ॥

That in which he findeth the supreme delight which the Reason can grasp beyond the senses, wherein established he moveth not from the Reality;

22

yaṃ labdhvā chāparaṃ lābhaṃ manyatē nādhikaṃ tataḥ ।
yasminsthitō na duḥkhēna guruṇāpi vichālyatē ॥ 22 ॥

Which, having obtained, he thinketh there is no greater gain beyond it; wherein, established, he is not shaken even by heavy sorrow;

23

taṃ vidyādduḥkhasaṃyōgaviyōgaṃ yōgasañjñitam ।
sa niśchayēna yōktavyō yōgō'nirviṇṇachētasā ॥ 23 ॥

That should be known by the name of yoga, this disconnection from the union with pain. This yoga must be clung to with a firm conviction and with undesponding mind.

24

saṅkalpaprabhavānkāmāṃstyaktvā sarvānaśēṣataḥ ।
manasaivēndriyagrāmaṃ viniyamya samantataḥ ॥ 24 ॥

Abandoning without reserve all desires born of the imagination, by the mind curbing in the aggregate of the senses on every side,

25

śanaiḥ śanairuparamēdbuddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā ।
ātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñchidapi chintayēt ॥ 25 ॥

Little by little let him gain tranquillity, by means of Reason controlled by steadiness; having made the mind abide in the Self, let him not think of anything.

26

yatō yatō niścharati manaśchañchalamasthiram ।
tatastatō niyamyaitadātmanyēva vaśaṃ nayēt ॥ 26 ॥

As often as the wavering and unsteady mind goeth forth, so often reining it in, let him bring it under the control of the Self.

27

praśāntamanasaṃ hyēnaṃ yōginaṃ sukhamuttamam ।
upaiti śāntarajasaṃ brahmabhūtamakalmaṣam ॥ 27 ॥

Supreme joy is for this Yogi whose mind is peaceful, whose passion-nature is calmed, who is sinless and of the nature of the Eternal.

28

yuñjannēvaṃ sadātmānaṃ yōgī vigatakalmaṣaḥ ।
sukhēna brahmasaṃsparśamatyantaṃ sukhamaśnutē ॥ 28 ॥

The Yogî who thus, ever harmonising the self, hath put away sin, he easily enjoyeth the infinite bliss of contact with the Eternal.

29

sarvabhūtasthamātmānaṃ sarvabhūtāni chātmani ।
īkṣatē yōgayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ ॥ 29 ॥

The self, harmonised by yoga, seeth the Self abiding in all beings, all beings in the Self; everywhere he seeth the same.

30

yō māṃ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṃ cha mayi paśyati ।
tasyāhaṃ na praṇaśyāmi sa cha mē na praṇaśyati ॥ 30 ॥

He who seeth Me everywhere, and seeth everything in Me, of him will I never lose hold, and he shall never lose hold of Me.

31

sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yō māṃ bhajatyēkatvamāsthitaḥ ।
sarvathā vartamānō'pi sa yōgī mayi vartatē ॥ 31 ॥

He who, established in unity, worshippeth Me abiding in all beings, that Yogi liveth in Me, whatever his mode of living.

32

ātmaupamyēna sarvatra samaṃ paśyati yō'rjuna ।
sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ sa yōgī paramō mataḥ ॥ 32 ॥

He who, through the likeness of the Self, O Arjuna, seeth equality in everything, whether pleasant or painful, he is considered a perfect Yogî.

33

arjuna uvācha ।

yō'yaṃ yōgastvayā prōktaḥ sāmyēna madhusūdana ।
ētasyāhaṃ na paśyāmi chañchalatvātsthitiṃ sthirām ॥ 33 ॥

This yoga which Thou hast declared to be by equanimity, O Madhusûdana, I see not a stable foundation for it, owing to restlessness;

34

chañchalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavaddṛḍham ।
tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manyē vāyōriva suduṣkaram ॥ 34 ॥

For the mind is verily restless, O Krishna; it is impetuous, strong and difficult to bend. I deem it as hard to curb as the wind.

35

śrībhagavānuvācha ।

asaṃśayaṃ mahābāhō manō durnigrahaṃ chalam ।
abhyāsēna tu kauntēya vairāgyēṇa cha gṛhyatē ॥ 35 ॥

The Blessed Lord said:

Without doubt, O mighty-armed, the mind is hard to curb and restless; but it may be curbed by constant practice and by dispassion.

36

asaṃyatātmanā yōgō duṣprāpa iti mē matiḥ ।
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyō'vāptumupāyataḥ ॥ 36 ॥

Yoga is hard to attain, methinks, by a self that is uncontrolled; but by the Self-controlled it is attainable by properly directed energy.

37

arjuna uvācha ।

ayatiḥ śraddhayōpētō yōgāchchalitamānasaḥ ।
aprāpya yōgasaṃsiddhiṃ kāṃ gatiṃ kṛṣṇa gachChati ॥ 37 ॥

Arjuna said:

He who is unsubdued but who possesseth faith, with the mind wandering away from yoga, failing to attain perfection in yoga, what path doth he tread, O Krishna?

38

kachchinnōbhayavibhraṣṭaśChinnābhramiva naśyati ।
apratiṣṭhō mahābāhō vimūḍhō brahmaṇaḥ pathi ॥ 38 ॥

Fallen from both, is he destroyed like a rent cloud, unsteadfast, O mighty-armed, deluded in the path of the Eternal?

39

ētanmē saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa Chēttumarhasyaśēṣataḥ ।
tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya Chēttā na hyupapadyatē ॥ 39 ॥

Deign, O Krishna, to completely dispel this doubt of mine; for there is none to be found save Thyself able to destroy this doubt.

40

śrībhagavānuvācha ।

pārtha naivēha nāmutra vināśastasya vidyatē ।
na hi kalyāṇakṛtkaśchiddurgatiṃ tāta gachChati ॥ 40 ॥

The Blessed Lord said:

O son of Prithâ, neither in this world nor in the life to come is there destruction for him; never doth any who worketh righteousness, O beloved, tread the path of woe.

41

prāpya puṇyakṛtāṃ lōkānuṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ ।
śuchīnāṃ śrīmatāṃ gēhē yōgabhraṣṭō'bhijāyatē ॥ 41 ॥

Having attained to the worlds of the pure-doing, and having dwelt there for immemorial years, he who fell from yoga is reborn in a pure and blessed house;

42

athavā yōgināmēva kulē bhavati dhīmatām ।
ētaddhi durlabhataraṃ lōkē janma yadīdṛśam ॥ 42 ॥

Or he may even be born into a family of wise Yogîs; but such a birth as that is most difficult to obtain in this world.

43

tatra taṃ buddhisaṃyōgaṃ labhatē paurvadēhikam ।
yatatē cha tatō bhūyaḥ saṃsiddhau kurunandana ॥ 43 ॥

There he recovereth the characteristics belonging to this former body, and with these he again laboureth for perfection, O joy of the Kurus.

44

pūrvābhyāsēna tēnaiva hriyatē hyavaśō'pi saḥ ।
jijñāsurapi yōgasya śabdabrahmātivartatē ॥ 44 ॥

By that former practice he is irresistibly swept away. Only wishing to know yoga, even the seeker after yoga goeth beyond the Brâhmic world;

45

prayatnādyatamānastu yōgī saṃśuddhakilbiṣaḥ ।
anēkajanmasaṃsiddhastatō yāti parāṃ gatim ॥ 45 ॥

But the Yogî, labouring with assiduity, purified from sin, fully perfected through manifold births, he reacheth the supreme goal.

46

tapasvibhyō'dhikō yōgī jñānibhyō'pi matō'dhikaḥ ।
karmibhyaśchādhikō yōgī tasmādyōgī bhavārjuna ॥ 46 ॥

The Yogî is greater than the ascetics; he is thought to be greater than even the wise; the Yogî is greater than the men of action; therefore become thou a Yogî, O Arjuna!

47

yōgināmapi sarvēṣāṃ madgatēnāntarātmanā ।
śraddhāvānbhajatē yō māṃ sa mē yuktatamō mataḥ ॥ 47 ॥

And among all Yogîs, he who, full of faith, with the inner Self abiding in Me, adoreth Me, he is considered by Me to be the most completely harmonised.