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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

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.25

Samādhi and a steadily controlled mind

Jīva · The soul

शनै: शनैरुपरमेद्‍बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया ।

आत्मसंस्थं मन: कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥ २५ ॥

śanaiḥ śanair uparamed

buddhyā dhṛti-gṛhītayā

ātma-saṁsthaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā

na kiñcid api cintayet

Translation

Gradually, step by step, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence sustained by full conviction, and thus the mind should be fixed on the Self alone and should think of nothing else.

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

Fix the Mind Gradually

  1. 1

    Step by step, use intelligence and firm conviction to enter trance, fixing the mind on the Self alone.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that one should withdraw from sense activities and seek only the pleasure of the Supreme Self.

  3. 3

    Practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness directly to easily reach this state.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 6.24–25

Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

1

Patience (6.24)

2

Determination — Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)

3

Without deviation (6.24)

4

Faith — Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)

5

Control senses by mind (6.24)

6

Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)

7

Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)

8

Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)

9

Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

recommended above for the practice of bhakti-yoga in Nectar of Instruction (“utsahan niscayad dhairyat...”)

a

Principle behind the above mentioned nine methods (Refer to translation) — One should practice with great determination because “God helps those who help themselves”

b

Pratyahara — It implies to gradually cease sense activities

How – One should practice this by proper conviction and intelligence

c

Samadhi — It implies how to fix the mind in self alone

How – One can come to this stage by conviction, meditation and cessation of senses

d

By Krishna consciousness practice one easily attains samadhi because a devotee automatically fulfils the following characteristics of samadhi

At that time there is no longer any danger of being engaged in the material conception of life

Although one is involved with matter as long as the material body exists, one should not think about sense gratification

One should think of no pleasure aside from the pleasure of the Supreme Self

Connected verses · 2

Texts 6.24 & 6.25

We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

Texts 6.25 & 6.26

a

defined as serving Krishna with purified senses (6.26) The means of success is next described. (b) How one can become fixed in the quality of Brahman – fix mind on the lotus feet of the Lord. (c) Self realization – defined as knowing ones constitutional position in relationship with the Supreme. Text 6.26 THEME: Means of Success • Nature of mind – The mind is ‘flickering’ and ‘unsteady’ • Mind will fly away in beginning, but should not give up hope • Bring mind back under the control of the self

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. śanaiḥgradually
  2. śanaiḥstep by step
  3. uparametone should hold back
  4. buddhyāby intelligence
  5. dhṛti-gṛhītayācarried by conviction
  6. ātma-saṁsthamplaced in transcendence
  7. manaḥmind
  8. kṛtvāmaking
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 6.25 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

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

Live this todayBring the Mind BackA practice from BG 6.26, close to this verse

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