Dhyana Yoga

श्रीभगवानुवाच । अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः ॥...

Lord Krishna continued: A Sannyaasi is one who performs action or duty (Karma) without desiring any reward or other results for his actions. One cannot be a Sannyaasi or a Yogi by simply not petorming Karma.

यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव । न ह्यसंन्यस्तसंकल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन ॥ ६.२ ॥

O Arjuna, consider Sannyaas and Yoga as one and the same; just as one becomes a Sannyassi by giving up all desires, similarly to be a Yogi one must do the same.

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते । योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते ॥ ६.३ ॥

For one who wishes to establish himself in the divinity of Yoga. O Arjuna, he must follow the method of doing Karma without desires of any sort. For, giving up all worldly thoughts is the path that will lead you to being fully and truly established in Yoga, Dear Arjuna.

यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते । सर्वसंकल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते ॥ ६.४ ॥

When one is no longer attached to sensual objects or to the Karma that he does, and when he has totally rid himself of all desires, at that time, a person is considered to be fully and undoubtedly established in Yoga.

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् । आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥ ६.५ ॥

Dear Arjuna, one should lift himself through his own efforts. He success or failure in performing his Karma should be the result of his own doing. Should a man fail, he should not degrade himself, O Arjuna, for he is his own true friend as well as his own true enemy.

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः । अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥ ६.६ ॥

The true self (soul) is only its own friend if it is free from attachment and in control of its own mind, body and senses. However, dear Arjuna, if one’s soul is not in control of mind body and senses, then the soul is its own enemy.

जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः । शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः ॥ ६.७ ॥

One who has truly achieved peace with the self and a balance in cold and heat, joy and sorrow, respect and disrespect, has a purified and liberated soul, God dwells in souls such as these and the soul thereby, becomes truly divine.

ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः । युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ॥ ६.८ ॥

he Lord explained: When one’s mind is at peace and fully contented with the Gyan (Knowledge or wisdom) it has acquired, one whose mind is constantly stable and fixed in God, who has controlled his senses well and considers dirt, stone and gold as one, is said to have achieved unity with God. He is the perfect Yogi, O Arjuna.

सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु । साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥ ६.९ ॥

One who thinks about and behaves with dear ones, friends, enemies, neutral ones, mediators malicious people, relatives, saints and sinful people, in the same manner, is truly a superior person.

योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः । एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः ॥ ६.१० ॥

Harboring insatiable lust, full of hypocrisy, pride and arrogance, the demoniac cling to their false tenets. Thus illusioned, they are attracted to the impermanent and work with impure resolve.

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः । नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् ॥ ६.११ ॥

For proper meditation, the Yogi should seek a clear spot, covered with grass, deer skin and/or clothing, which is neither very high nor very low, to seat himself.

तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः । उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये ॥ ६.१२ ॥

He should then practice Yoga for the purpose of purifying his mind and soul, focusing his thoughts on one point (God) at all times, and fully controlling the function of mind and senses.

समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः । सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् ॥ ६.१३ ॥

The Lord instructed Arjuna:While meditating one must keep the head, neck and torso (upper body) as straight and as steady as possible, without even a slight movement.firmly looking at the tip of the nose and looking in no other direction whatsoever.

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः । मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः ॥ ६.१४ ॥

It is said the fruit of actions performed in the mode of goodness bestow pure results. Actions done in the mode of passion result in pain, while those performed in the mode of ignorance result in darkness.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः । शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति ॥ ६.१५ ॥

In this way, the true, self-controlled Yogi. Will inevitably attain eternal peace and be in the highest state of bliss by fixing his mind on Me during (proper) meditation.

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः । न चाति स्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥ ६.१६ ॥

There must be a constant balance in everything a Yogi does. Eating too much or eating very little, sleeping too much or sleeping very little, for example, are not methods of succeeding in this Yoga.

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु । युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥ ६.१७ ॥

O Arjuna, only those people who eat, live, work and sleep moderately, and destroy all misery, succeed in this Yoga.

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते । निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥ ६.१८ ॥

When one has freed himself of all desires, he will then always be firmly established in Yoga. When one has full control of his mind, he will be fully established in God.

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता । योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥ ६.१९ ॥

The Almighty explained: Just as the flame of a lamp does not flicker in a place without wind, in the same way the controlled mind of the Yogi does not get distracted by worldly objects or pleasures.

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया । यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति ॥ ६.२० ॥

By the practice of Yoga, one’s mind becomes peaceful and calm and the mind that has truly realized God through meditation attains spiritual happiness, enjoyment and bliss only in God.

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद् बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् । वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः ॥ ६.२१ ...

O Arjuna, the limitless and everlasting joy and bliss that a true Yogi feels cannot be perceived by the ordinary senses, but can only be felt by a person who has a subtle, keen and clever intellect. When this Yogi has discovered this true happiness, he will never stray or move away from the Truth, Arjuna.

यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं ततः । यस्मिन्स्थितो न दुःखेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते ॥ ६.२२ ॥

Having achieved this divine state of bliss, Dear Arjuna, the Yogi realizes that no other state or condition could be greater, thus even the most intense pains will never lead the Yogi astray from Truth or devotion to Me, the Supreme Soul.

तं विद्याद्\u200cदुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् ॥ ६.२३ ॥

Yoga is the means to liberate (free) one from all miseries of the world. Yoga should always be practical with a fixed mind and determination.

स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा । संकल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः मनसैवेन्द्रि...

Once one has completely given up all desires created from his imagination and once one has learned to mentally control all of his senses, one slowly and gradually becomes peaceful. A true Yogi with a steady intellect fixes his mind only on God and thinks of nothing else but the Lord.

शनैः शनैरुपरमेद्\u200cबुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया । आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किंचिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥ ६.२५ ॥

Once one has completely given up all desires created from his imagination and once one has learned to mentally control all of his senses, one slowly and gradually becomes peaceful. A true Yogi with a steady intellect fixes his mind only on God and thinks of nothing else but the Lord.

यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् । ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥ ६.२६ ॥

The unsteady, wandering and constantly distracted mind should always be controlled and fixed in God.

प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् । उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ॥ ६.२७ ॥

Lord Krishna explained:The true Yogi has a peaceful mind, is free from sin and all evils of the world, becomes and eternal bliss.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मषः । सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते ॥ ६.२८ ॥

The sinless Yogi is constantly engaged in Yoga, and experiences no difficulty in achieving the greatest bliss and happiness of all, O Arjuna. That is, uniting and being one with Me, the Lord.

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि । ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः ॥ ६.२९ ॥

he wiseman who is forever engaged in performing Yoga, never discriminates against anybody because he sees his own self in all beings, and all beings within his own self.

यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति । तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति ॥ ६.३० ॥

The Lord explained: O Arjuna, he who truly sees Me everywhere he looks, sees me in everything. I am always there within his sight and he is also always within my sight.

सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः । सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते ॥ ६.३१ ॥

The Lord proclaimed: O Arjuna, I am present in all beings. He who worships me with a steady, peaceful and undistracted mind, is a true Yogi and he dwells within Me in My heart always.

आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन । सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं स योगी परमो मतः ॥ ६.३२ ॥

Dear Arjuna, the Yogi who looks upon all beings as his own self, treats all beings equally, and considers happiness and misery as the same, is truly a great being himself.

अर्जुन उवाच । योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चञ्चलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थि...

Arjuna asked Shri Krishna: Dear Lord, I simply cannot regard the Yoga of even-mindedness as a firm and stable exercise because of the instability of the mind itself.

चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्\u200cदृढम् । तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥ ६.३४ ॥

Dear Krishna, the mind is truly very unstable, forceful and strong. It is just as difficult to control as the flow of the wind.

श्रीभगवानुवाच । असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥ ६.३५...

Lord Krishna divinely replied: Dear Arjuna, undoubtedly, the mind, as you say, is difficult to control, yet with paractice, determination and detachment, it can be controlled.

असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः । वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः ॥ ६.३६ ॥

Lord Krishna continued: In my opinion, O Arjuna, without a controlled mind, it is difficult for one to attain Yoga (attaining God). However, with a reasonable effort, the Yoga of even-mindedness (path to achieving the Lord) can be achieved by a person who has learned to control his senses.

अर्जुन उवाच । अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥ ६.३...

Arjuna asked the Lord: Dear Lord Krishna, what becomes of a man who has a firm belief in Yoga and has set foot on the path of Yoga, but allows his mind to deviate or stray from this path which leads to perfection?

कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति । अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि ॥ ६.३८ ॥

Arjuna continued: What happens to a man who can no longer continue on this path leading to the attainment of God (Yoga)? Is he destroyed and does he lose both worlds of Yoga (God-realization) and that of worldly enjoyment just as the clouds are scattered by the winds?

एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः । त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥ ६.३९ ॥

Lord Krishna, this is one of the doubts I have in my mind. You can remove it entirely. If anybody can remove all my doubts Krishna, it is You, and only You. Nobody else can clear My doubts completely.

श्रीभगवानुवाच । पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद्\u200cदुर्गतिं तात ग...

Lord Krishna replied: Dear Arjuna, the answer to your question is quite simple. A person who strives for God-realization (Yoga) never suffers deterioration or destruction. He is never destroyed in this world or in the other world regardless of whether he realizes Me fully or not.

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः । शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते ॥ ६.४१ ॥

The unsuccessful person in Yoga, Dear Arjuna, achieves an abode or home in heaven, the place of pious, pure. He stays there for a long time and after a while, takes birth in the house of noble people of good conduct.

अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम् । एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम् ॥ ६.४२ ॥

Dear Arjuna, if he does not take birth in a noble family of good conduct, then he will be born into a family of wise yogis.Such a birth in the world is difficult to find and can only be achieved if your actions are pious, good-natured and unsinful.

तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम् । यतते च ततो भूयः संसिद्धौ कुरुनन्दन ॥ ६.४३ ॥

When a man takes birth in his next life, he attains the wisdom he had achieved from the pious actions he performed in the pious actions of his past life, he tries harder once more to achieve true eternal peace and happiness in God through Yoga.

पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः । जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते ॥ ६.४४ ॥

As a result of the religious practices of his past life, he remains free of attachments and is attracted towards God by constantly practising Yoga although he may be under bad and unfavourable influences.

प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः । अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥ ६.४५ ॥

After practicing Yoga during many births, there by destroying all sins and totally purifying the Self, the Yoga attains the supreme state, i.e. Salvation (total liberation from the world).

तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः । कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन ॥ ६.४६ ॥

Lord Krishna stated: O Arjuna, the Yogi is superior to all those who perform religious sacrifices and superior to those who read holy scriptures and, of course, to those who perform attached Karma. Therefore, Arjuna, you should strive to be a Yogi.

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना । श्रद्धावान् भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः ॥ ६.४७ ॥

Of all the Yogis, the one who has complete faith in Me, whose mind is attached to Me only, and who continually worships Me, is absolutely the superior among all Yogis.