श्रीभगवानुवाच |
śrībhagavānuvāca |
The Blessed Lord declares that the true renunciant and yogi is one who performs obligatory duty without depending on the fruits of action — not the one who merely abandons the sacred fire or ceases all activity.
यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव |
yaṃ saṃnyāsamiti prāhuryogaṃ taṃ viddhi pāṇḍava |
Krishna tells Arjuna that what is called renunciation (sannyasa) is essentially the same as yoga, for no one becomes a yogi without giving up selfish desires and personal motives (sankalpa).
आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते |
ārurukṣormuneryogaṃ karma kāraṇamucyate |
For a sage who is ascending to yoga, selfless action (karma) is the means. For one who has already attained yoga, cessation of all selfish activity (shama — tranquility) is said to be the means of remaining established.
यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते |
yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu na karmasvanuṣajjate |
When a person is no longer attached to sense objects nor to actions, having renounced all selfish desires (sankalpas), that person is said to be established in yoga.
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् |
uddharedātmanātmānaṃ nātmānamavasādayet |
One must elevate oneself by one's own effort and not degrade oneself. For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः |
bandhurātmātmanastasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ |
For one who has conquered the lower self by the higher self, the self acts as a friend. But for one who has not conquered the self, the very self behaves as an enemy, like an external foe.
जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः |
jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ |
For one who has conquered the self and attained tranquility, the Supreme Self is already reached. Such a person remains balanced amidst cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor.
ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः |
jñānavijñānatṛptātmā kūṭastho vijitendriyaḥ |
The yogi who is satisfied with knowledge and direct realization, who is immovable, who has conquered the senses, and to whom a lump of earth, a stone, and gold are the same — such a one is said to be established in yoga.
सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु |
suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu |
One who maintains equal-mindedness toward well-wishers, friends, enemies, neutrals, mediators, the hateful, relatives, saints, and sinners alike — such a person excels and is distinguished among all.
योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः |
yogī yuñjīta satatamātmānaṃ rahasi sthitaḥ |
The yogi should constantly engage the mind in meditation, dwelling in solitude, alone, with the mind and body controlled, free from expectations and possessiveness.
शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः |
śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiramāsanamātmanaḥ |
In a clean place, one should establish a firm seat for oneself — neither too high nor too low — covered with a cloth, a deerskin, and kusha grass, one over the other.
तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः |
tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yatacittendriyakriyaḥ |
Seated there on that seat, making the mind one-pointed and controlling the activities of the mind and senses, one should practice yoga for the purification of the self.
समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः |
samaṃ kāyaśirogrīvaṃ dhārayannacalaṃ sthiraḥ |
Holding the body, head, and neck erect, firm, and still, gazing at the tip of one's own nose without looking in any other direction.
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः |
praśāntātmā vigatabhīrbrahmacārivrate sthitaḥ |
With a serene mind, free from fear, established in the vow of celibacy (brahmacharya), controlling the mind, the yogi should sit in meditation with the mind fixed on Me, regarding Me as the supreme goal.
युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः |
yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī niyatamānasaḥ |
Thus constantly disciplining the mind, the yogi of controlled mind attains the peace that culminates in nirvana — the supreme peace that abides in Me.
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः |
nātyaśnatastu yogo'sti na caikāntamanaśnataḥ |
Yoga is not possible for one who eats too much or too little, nor for one who sleeps too much or too little, O Arjuna.
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु |
yuktāhāravihārasya yuktaceṣṭasya karmasu |
For one who is moderate in eating and recreation, balanced in effort during activities, and regulated in sleep and wakefulness — yoga becomes the destroyer of suffering.
यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते |
yadā viniyataṃ cittamātmanyevāvatiṣṭhate |
When the perfectly disciplined mind rests in the Self alone, free from longing for all desires, then one is said to be established in yoga.
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता |
yathā dīpo nivātastho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā |
As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker — this is the simile used for the yogi of controlled mind, practicing yoga of the Self.
यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया |
yatroparamate cittaṃ niruddhaṃ yogasevayā |
Where the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, attains stillness; where, seeing the Self by the self, one rejoices in the Self alone.
सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् |
sukhamātyantikaṃ yattadbuddhigrāhyamatīndriyam |
Where one experiences the infinite, transcendental happiness that is grasped by the purified intellect and is beyond the senses — established there, one never departs from the truth.
यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं ततः |
yaṃ labdhvā cāparaṃ lābhaṃ manyate nādhikaṃ tataḥ |
Having obtained which, one considers no other gain to be greater; established in which, one is not shaken even by the heaviest sorrow.
तं विद्याद्दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् |
taṃ vidyādduḥkhasaṃyogaviyogaṃ yogasaṃjñitam |
Let that be known as yoga — the state of disconnection from the union with suffering. This yoga should be practiced with determination and an unwavering mind, free from despair.
सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः |
saṅkalpaprabhavānkāmāṃstyaktvā sarvānaśeṣataḥ |
Completely abandoning all desires born of mental resolve (sankalpa), and thoroughly restraining the entire group of senses by the mind alone from all directions.
शनैः शनैरुपरमेद्बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया |
śanaiḥ śanairuparamedbuddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā |
Gradually, step by step, one should withdraw the mind through the intellect sustained by firm conviction. Having established the mind in the Self, one should not think of anything at all.
यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् |
yato yato niścarati manaścañcalamasthiram |
From whatever direction the restless and unsteady mind wanders away, one should draw it back from there and bring it under the control of the Self alone.
प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् |
praśāntamanasaṃ hyenaṃ yoginaṃ sukhamuttamam |
Supreme happiness comes to the yogi whose mind is peaceful, whose passions are calmed, who is free from sin, and who has become one with Brahman.
युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मषः |
yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī vigatakalmaṣaḥ |
Thus constantly engaging the mind in yoga, the yogi, freed from all impurities, easily attains the infinite bliss of contact with Brahman.
सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि |
sarvabhūtasthamātmānaṃ sarvabhūtāni cātmani |
The yogi whose self is united in yoga sees the Self dwelling in all beings and all beings dwelling in the Self — seeing the same everywhere.
यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति |
yo māṃ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṃ ca mayi paśyati |
One who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me — to that person I am never lost, nor is that person ever lost to Me.
सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः |
sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yo māṃ bhajatyekatvamāsthitaḥ |
The yogi who worships Me as dwelling in all beings, established in unity, lives in Me regardless of their external mode of life.
आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन |
ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṃ paśyati yo'rjuna |
O Arjuna, the yogi who, through comparison with the self, sees equality everywhere — whether in happiness or sorrow — is considered the highest yogi.
अर्जुन उवाच |
arjuna uvāca |
Arjuna said: O Madhusudana (Krishna), this yoga of equanimity which You have described — I do not see how it can be steady and lasting, because the mind is so restless.
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् |
cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavaddṛḍham |
The mind is truly restless, O Krishna — it is turbulent, powerful, and obstinate. I consider controlling it as difficult as controlling the wind.
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
śrībhagavānuvāca |
The Blessed Lord said: Without doubt, O mighty-armed one, the mind is restless and difficult to control. But, O son of Kunti, it can be controlled through practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya).
असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः |
asaṃyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ |
It is My view that yoga is difficult to attain for one whose mind is uncontrolled. But for one who strives with a controlled mind, it is attainable through proper means.
अर्जुन उवाच |
arjuna uvāca |
Arjuna said: O Krishna, what is the fate of one who has faith but lacks self-control, whose mind wanders from yoga and who fails to attain perfection in yoga?
कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति |
kaccinnobhayavibhraṣṭaśchinnābhramiva naśyati |
Does such a person not perish like a scattered cloud, O mighty-armed one — fallen from both paths, without foundation, bewildered on the path to Brahman?
एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः |
etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ |
O Krishna, please dispel this doubt of mine completely, for no one other than You is capable of destroying this doubt.
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
śrībhagavānuvāca |
The Blessed Lord said: O Partha, there is no destruction for such a person — neither in this world nor in the next. No one who does good, My dear friend, ever comes to a bad end.
प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः |
prāpya puṇyakṛtāṃ lokānuṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ |
Having attained the worlds of the righteous and dwelling there for many years, the one who has fallen from yoga is reborn in the home of the pure and the prosperous.
अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम् |
athavā yogināmeva kule bhavati dhīmatām |
Or such a person is born in a family of wise yogis. Indeed, such a birth is very rare to obtain in this world.
तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम् |
tatra taṃ buddhisaṃyogaṃ labhate paurvadehikam |
There, in that birth, one regains the spiritual intelligence of the previous body and strives again from that point toward perfection, O descendant of Kuru.
पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः |
pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva hriyate hyavaśo'pi saḥ |
By the force of that previous practice, one is irresistibly drawn toward yoga, even against their will. Even the mere seeker of yoga transcends the ritualistic knowledge of the Vedas.
प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः |
prayatnādyatamānastu yogī saṃśuddhakilbiṣaḥ |
The yogi who strives with effort, purified of all impurities, perfected through many births, then attains the supreme goal.
तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः |
tapasvibhyo'dhiko yogī jñānibhyo'pi mato'dhikaḥ |
The yogi is considered greater than ascetics, greater even than the learned scholars, and greater than ritualistic performers. Therefore, O Arjuna, be a yogi!
योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना |
yogināmapi sarveṣāṃ madgatenāntarātmanā |
And among all yogis, the one who worships Me with faith, with the inner self absorbed in Me — that one I consider the most united, the highest yogi of all.