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Chapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga · 47 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Mind & yogaChapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga
6.176.19

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.18

Yoga practice, posture and moderation

Jīva · The soul

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते ।

निस्पृह: सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥ १८ ॥

yadā viniyataṁ cittam

ātmany evāvatiṣṭhate

nispṛhaḥ sarva-kāmebhyo

yukta ity ucyate tadā

Translation

When the yogī, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence – devoid of all material desires – he is said to be well established in yoga.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Well Established in Yoga

  1. 1

    A yogī is well established in yoga when practice brings the mind beyond material desires.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa consciousness brings this perfection by engaging the mind and senses in the Lord’s service, not merely stopping activities.

  3. 3

    Practice remembering Kṛṣṇa, hearing about His activities, and using your words to describe His qualities.

Key points from the purport

A yogi becomes perfect when his consciousness remains perfectly fixed in the self.

Criteria for perfection of yoga:

All mental activities disciplined

Situated in transcendence

Free of all material desires:

a

Freedom from material desires

This is the distinguishing characteristic of Yogi and ordinary man – especially the sex desire.

This is automatic, easy and practical for Krishna conscious person – e.g. Ambarish Maharajs (all senses engaged)

b

Archana — prescribed activities in devotional service which is the process of engaging all senses in the service of the Lord

c

Perfect process for transcendental achievement for any ordinary man — Transcendental engagement of mind and senses which is called ‘yukta’ in Bhagavad-gita

Connected verses · 1

Texts 6.17 & 6.18

In Texts 6.10 — 6.17, Krishna has described how to meditate. Now Krishna will describe the perfectional stage of astanga-yoga

Further reading

Further Stages In The Practice Of Yoga

Krishna describes the practices of astanga-yoga

The result are ‘Yogarudha (the perfectional stage)’ and ultimately ‘the vision of the Supersoul’.

Chapter 6, section III: Further Stages In The Practice Of Yoga
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadāwhen
  2. viniyatamparticularly disciplined
  3. cittamthe mind and its activities
  4. ātmaniin the transcendence
  5. evacertainly
  6. avatiṣṭhatebecomes situated
  7. nispṛhaḥdevoid of desire
  8. sarvafor all kinds of
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 6.18 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?

Practice

Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 6 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 6.10Yoga practice, posture and moderationBG 6.11Yoga practice, posture and moderation
Live this todayRegulated Life in Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessA practice from BG 6.17, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction