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Chapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga · 47 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
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

6.19 6.21

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.20

Samādhi and a steadily controlled mind

Jīva · The soul

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया ।

यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति ॥ २० ॥

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्‍बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् ।

वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वत: ॥ २१ ॥

यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं तत: ।

यस्मिन्स्थितो न दु:खेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते ॥ २२ ॥

तं विद्याद्दु:खसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् ॥ २३ ॥

yatroparamate cittaṁ

niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā

yatra caivātmanātmānaṁ

paśyann ātmani tuṣyati

sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad

buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam

vetti yatra na caivāyaṁ

sthitaś calati tattvataḥ

yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ

manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ

yasmin sthito na duḥkhena

guruṇāpi vicālyate

taṁ vidyād duḥkha-saṁyoga-

viyogaṁ yoga-saṁjñitam

Translation

In the stage of perfection called trance, or samādhi, one’s mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one’s ability to see the Self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the Self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

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

3 study points

True Happiness in Yoga

1
In samādhi, yoga stills material mental activity, and the pure mind sees and rejoices in the Self.
2
Prabhupāda explains that the soul remains distinct from the Supersoul. True spiritual happiness is easily achieved through devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.
3
Accept life's necessities without seeking extra sense pleasure, and remain steady in your duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness through difficulties.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 6.20–23

Realizations of a yogi in perfection

He thereby relishes boundless transcendental happiness by directly experiencing soul and Supersoul within the heart

Thinking that there is no greater joy than this his focus never departs from within, even amidst greatest difficulties

Thus he escapes all miseries

Primary characteristic of yoga principle

By practice of yoga one becomes gradually detached from material concepts

Then one becomes situated in trance / samadhi

What is actual Samadhi

It means that the yogi realizes the Supersoul through transcendental mind and intelligence

Without any of the misgivings of identifying the self with the Superself

“Transcendental pleasure through transcendental senses” — This phrase mentioned in the translation indicates soul and Supersoul are eternal individual identities (thus these verses support Patanjali system and refutes monistic impersonalism)

Unauthorised commentators – They try to identify the individual soul with the Supersoul, and the monists think this to be liberation

But they do not understand the real purpose of the Patanjali system

Patanjali system – There is an acceptance of transcendental pleasure in the Patanjali system, but the monists do not accept this, out of fear of jeopardizing the theory of oneness

Yoga practice is more or less based on the principles of the Patanjali system

..” by Caitanya Mahaprabhu – refers to clearance of impure mirror of the mind and realising one’s pure identity

Svarupena vyavastitah (SB 2.10.6) – To realize constitutional position as an eternal servant

Liberation from material infection does not mean destruction of the original eternal position of the living entity

Theory of nirvana also corresponds to this principle – after material cessation, there is manifestation of positive spiritual activities/devotional service

Vedanta sutra – anandamayobhyasat: Ultimate goal of yoga is the natural transcendental pleasure of devotional service

This ultimate goal is easily achieved by execution of bhakti-yoga FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 6.20 – 6.23 continued…

Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches

Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken from it

Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful

Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication

Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect

Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga — in terms of realizations

One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness

One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures

Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)

Material upheavals do not affect his duties

He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

Connected verses · 1

Texts 6.19 & 6.20

This example illustrates the perfect stage of yoga. As a flame in a windless place does not waver, so the mind of a yogi in samadhi is perfectly steady.