Sacred Scripture / Chapter 6
47 published verses from Srimad Bhagavad Gita (आत्मसंयमयोगः). The Yoga of Meditation and Complete Self-Mastery. Chapter 6 is the crowning glory of the first sextet (Karma Yoga Shatka) of the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna systematically unfolds the art of meditation (Dhyana), the psychology of the mind (the mind as friend or foe), the vital role of balanced living (Yukta-ahara-viharasya), overcoming restlessness through practice (Abhyasa) and detachment (Vairagya), and the eternal guarantee that genuine spiritual effort is never lost across lifetimes.
Explore original Sanskrit, word-by-word padartha, trilingual translations, commentary, reflections, and modern life applications.
47 verses
Verse 6.1
anāśritaḥ karmaphalaṃ kāryaṃ karma karoti yaḥ | sa saṃnyāsī ca yogī ca na niragnirna cākriyaḥ ||1||
One who performs the work that ought to be done without depending on its fruit is both a renunciant and a yogi—not merely one without sacred fire or action.
Verse 6.2
yaṃ saṃnyāsamiti prāhuryogaṃ taṃ viddhi pāṇḍava | na hyasaṃnyastasaṅkalpo yogī bhavati kaścana ||2||
Know what is called renunciation to be yoga, Pandava. No one becomes a yogi without relinquishing desire-driven intentions.
Verse 6.3
ārurukṣormuneryogaṃ karma kāraṇamucyate | yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇamucyate ||3||
For the sage wishing to ascend to yoga, action is said to be the means. For that same sage established in yoga, tranquility is said to be the means.
Verse 6.4
yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu na karmasvanuṣajjate | sarvasaṅkalpasaṃnyāsī yogārūḍhastadocyate ||4||
When one clings neither to sense objects nor to actions and has renounced all desire-driven intentions, one is said to be established in yoga.
Verse 6.5
uddharedātmanātmānaṃ nātmānamavasādayet | ātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ ||5||
One should lift oneself by oneself and not let oneself sink. For oneself alone is one's friend, and oneself alone is one's enemy.
Verse 6.6
bandhurātmātmanastasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ | anātmanastu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatruvat ||6||
For one who has mastered oneself through oneself, oneself is a friend. For the undisciplined person, oneself behaves like an enemy.
Verse 6.7
jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ | śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ ||7||
For the self-mastered and tranquil person, the supreme Self is established; there is steadiness amid cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor.
Verse 6.8
jñānavijñānatṛptātmā kūṭastho vijitendriyaḥ | yukta ityucyate yogī samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ ||8||
Satisfied by knowledge and realized understanding, unwavering and master of the senses, the yogi who regards earth, stone, and gold alike is called established in yoga.
Verse 6.9
suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu | sādhuṣvapi ca pāpeṣu samabuddhirviśiṣyate ||9||
One whose understanding is equal toward well-wishers, friends, enemies, the indifferent, mediators, the disliked, relatives, the good, and wrongdoers is especially excellent.
Verse 6.10
yogī yuñjīta satatamātmānaṃ rahasi sthitaḥ | ekākī yatacittātmā nirāśīraparigrahaḥ ||10||
The yogi should continually practice inward discipline in seclusion, alone, with mind and self restrained, without expectations or possessive accumulation.
Verse 6.11
śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiramāsanamātmanaḥ | nātyucchritaṃ nātinīcaṃ cailājinakuśottaram ||11||
In a clean place, one should set up a firm seat, neither too high nor too low, with cloth, skin, and kusha grass arranged upon it.
Verse 6.12
tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yatacittendriyakriyaḥ | upaviśyāsane yuñjyādyogamātmaviśuddhaye ||12||
Sitting on that seat, making the mind one-pointed and restraining the activities of mind and senses, one should practice yoga for inward purification.
Verse 6.13
samaṃ kāyaśirogrīvaṃ dhārayannacalaṃ sthiraḥ | samprekṣya nāsikāgraṃ svaṃ diśaścānavalokayan ||13||
Keeping body, head, and neck aligned and motionless, steady, looking toward the tip of one's nose and not looking around—
Verse 6.14
praśāntātmā vigatabhīrbrahmacārivrate sthitaḥ | manaḥ saṃyamya maccitto yukta āsīta matparaḥ ||14||
Peaceful within, free from fear, established in the vow of brahmacharya, with mind restrained and fixed on me, one should sit in yoga, taking me as supreme.
Verse 6.15
yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī niyatamānasaḥ | śāntiṃ nirvāṇaparamāṃ matsaṃsthāmadhigacchati ||15||
Continually practicing in this way with mind disciplined, the yogi attains peace culminating in liberation and abiding in me.
Verse 6.16
nātyaśnatastu yogo'sti na caikāntamanaśnataḥ | na cātisvapnaśīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna ||16||
Yoga is not for one who eats excessively or does not eat at all, Arjuna; nor for one who sleeps excessively or remains constantly awake.
Verse 6.17
yuktāhāravihārasya yuktaceṣṭasya karmasu | yuktasvapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkhahā ||17||
For one balanced in food and recreation, measured in work, and balanced in sleep and waking, yoga becomes the remover of suffering.
Verse 6.18
yadā viniyataṃ cittamātmanyevāvatiṣṭhate | niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ityucyate tadā ||18||
When the well-disciplined mind rests in the self alone, free from craving for all desires, one is then called established in yoga.
Verse 6.19
yathā dīpo nivātastho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā | yogino yatacittasya yuñjato yogamātmanaḥ ||19||
A lamp in a windless place does not flicker: this is the comparison used for the yogi of restrained mind practicing yoga of the self.
Verse 6.20
yatroparamate cittaṃ niruddhaṃ yogasevayā | yatra caivātmanātmānaṃ paśyannātmani tuṣyati ||20||
Where the mind becomes quiet, restrained by yoga practice, and where, seeing the self through oneself, one is content in the self—
Verse 6.21
sukhamātyantikaṃ yattadbuddhigrāhyamatīndriyam | vetti yatra na caivāyaṃ sthitaścalati tattvataḥ ||21||
Where one knows that ultimate happiness, grasped by understanding and beyond the senses, and, established there, does not depart from truth—
Verse 6.22
yaṃ labdhvā cāparaṃ lābhaṃ manyate nādhikaṃ tataḥ | yasminsthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate ||22||
Having gained it, one considers no other gain greater; established in it, one is not shaken even by great suffering—
Verse 6.23
taṃ vidyādduḥkhasaṃyogaviyogaṃ yogasaṃjñitam | sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo'nirviṇṇacetasā ||23||
Know this separation from union with suffering as yoga. This yoga should be practiced with determination and an undiscouraged mind.
Verse 6.24
saṅkalpaprabhavānkāmāṃstyaktvā sarvānaśeṣataḥ | manasaivendriyagrāmaṃ viniyamya samantataḥ ||24||
Abandoning without remainder all desires born of mental constructions, and restraining the entire group of senses on every side through the mind—
Verse 6.25
śanaiḥ śanairuparamedbuddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā | ātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcidapi cintayet ||25||
One should become quiet little by little, with understanding held firm by resolve. Placing the mind in the self, one should think of nothing else.
Verse 6.26
yato yato niścarati manaścañcalamasthiram | tatastato niyamyaitadātmanyeva vaśaṃ nayet ||26||
Wherever the restless, unsteady mind wanders, one should restrain it from there and bring it under the sway of the self alone.
Verse 6.27
praśāntamanasaṃ hyenaṃ yoginaṃ sukhamuttamam | upaiti śāntarajasaṃ brahmabhūtamakalmaṣam ||27||
Highest happiness comes to this yogi whose mind is tranquil, whose restless passion is quieted, who has become Brahman and is free from impurity.
Verse 6.28
yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī vigatakalmaṣaḥ | sukhena brahmasaṃsparśamatyantaṃ sukhamaśnute ||28||
Continually practicing in this way, the yogi free from impurity easily experiences boundless happiness through contact with Brahman.
Verse 6.29
sarvabhūtasthamātmānaṃ sarvabhūtāni cātmani | īkṣate yogayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ ||29||
The person united in yoga and seeing equally everywhere sees the self dwelling in all beings and all beings in the self.
Verse 6.30
yo māṃ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṃ ca mayi paśyati | tasyāhaṃ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati ||30||
For one who sees me everywhere and sees everything in me, I am never lost, nor is that person ever lost to me.
Verse 6.31
sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yo māṃ bhajatyekatvamāsthitaḥ | sarvathā vartamāno'pi sa yogī mayi vartate ||31||
The yogi who worships me dwelling in all beings, established in unity, lives in me whatever the manner of living.
Verse 6.32
ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṃ paśyati yo'rjuna | sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ sa yogī paramo mataḥ ||32||
One who, by comparison with oneself, sees pleasure and pain equally everywhere is regarded as the highest yogi, Arjuna.
Verse 6.33
yo'yaṃ yogastvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhusūdana | etasyāhaṃ na paśyāmi cañcalatvātsthitiṃ sthirām ||33||
Arjuna said: Madhusudana, I do not see a steady foundation for this yoga of equality you have described, because of the mind's restlessness.
Verse 6.34
cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavaddṛḍham | tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyoriva suduṣkaram ||34||
The mind is restless, Krishna, turbulent, strong, and stubborn. I consider restraining it as difficult as restraining the wind.
Verse 6.35
asaṃśayaṃ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṃ calam | abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate ||35||
Without doubt, mighty-armed one, the mind is restless and difficult to restrain. Yet it is held through practice and nonattachment, son of Kunti.
Verse 6.36
asaṃyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ | vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo'vāptumupāyataḥ ||36||
In my view, yoga is difficult to attain for one without self-restraint. But one who strives with self-mastery can attain it through appropriate means.
Verse 6.37
ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāccalitamānasaḥ | aprāpya yogasaṃsiddhiṃ kāṃ gatiṃ kṛṣṇa gacchati ||37||
Arjuna said: Krishna, what becomes of one with faith but insufficient effort, whose mind has strayed from yoga before attaining its perfection?
Verse 6.38
kaccinnobhayavibhraṣṭaśchinnābhramiva naśyati | apratiṣṭho mahābāho vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi ||38||
Does that person, fallen from both paths, perish like a broken cloud, without support and confused on the path to Brahman, mighty-armed one?
Verse 6.39
etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ | tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate ||39||
Krishna, you should dispel this doubt of mine completely. No one other than you can resolve it.
Verse 6.40
pārtha naiveha nāmutra vināśastasya vidyate | na hi kalyāṇakṛtkaściddurgatiṃ tāta gacchati ||40||
Partha, there is no destruction for that person here or hereafter. Dear one, no one who does good comes to a harmful destiny.
Verse 6.41
prāpya puṇyakṛtāṃ lokānuṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | śucīnāṃ śrīmatāṃ gehe yogabhraṣṭo'bhijāyate ||41||
Having reached the worlds of the virtuous and lived there for long years, the one fallen from yoga is born in a household of the pure and prosperous.
Verse 6.42
athavā yogināmeva kule bhavati dhīmatām | etaddhi durlabhataraṃ loke janma yadīdṛśam ||42||
Or such a person is born into the family of wise yogis. A birth like this is indeed even rarer in the world.
Verse 6.43
tatra taṃ buddhisaṃyogaṃ labhate paurvadehikam | yatate ca tato bhūyaḥ saṃsiddhau kurunandana ||43||
There one regains the connection with understanding from the former body and strives again toward perfection, descendant of the Kurus.
Verse 6.44
pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva hriyate hyavaśo'pi saḥ | jijñāsurapi yogasya śabdabrahmātivartate ||44||
That former practice draws the person onward, even involuntarily. Even one who seeks to know yoga goes beyond Shabda-Brahman.
Verse 6.45
prayatnādyatamānastu yogī saṃśuddhakilbiṣaḥ | anekajanmasaṃsiddhastato yāti parāṃ gatim ||45||
But the yogi striving earnestly, purified of faults and perfected through many births, then reaches the highest destination.
Verse 6.46
tapasvibhyo'dhiko yogī jñānibhyo'pi mato'dhikaḥ | karmibhyaścādhiko yogī tasmādyogī bhavārjuna ||46||
The yogi is considered greater than ascetics, greater even than those of knowledge, and greater than those devoted to action. Therefore become a yogi, Arjuna.
Verse 6.47
yogināmapi sarveṣāṃ madgatenāntarātmanā | śraddhāvānbhajate yo māṃ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ ||47||
Among all yogis, the one who worships me with faith, with the inner self absorbed in me, is in my view the most fully united.
