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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 ›
Liberation & destinyChapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga
6.406.42

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.41

Spiritual effort is not lost

Kāla · Time

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वती: समा: ।

श‍ुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते ॥ ४१ ॥

prāpya puṇya-kṛtāṁ lokān

uṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ

śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe

yoga-bhraṣṭo ’bhijāyate

Translation

The unsuccessful yogī, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy.

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

Another Chance for the Yogī

  1. 1

    The unsuccessful yogī enjoys many years on the planets of the pious, then is born into a righteous or wealthy family.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that this path is for those who fall after little yoga practice. By the Lord’s grace, they receive another opportunity to progress.

  3. 3

    Use favorable circumstances to work toward full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the real goal of yoga.

Key points from the purport

Fate of unsuccessful yogi who falls after short practice:

Enjoys on heavenly planets for many many years

Then again he is sent to this planet and takes birth in a rich (aristocratic merchants) or pious (righteous Brahman vaishnavas) family – to use the facilities to elevate to Krishna Consciousness

a

The real purpose of yoga-practice — To achieve the highest perfection of Krishna consciousness (Ref. Bg. 6.47)

b

What about those who fail to reach that goal because of material allurements

By grace of the Lord they are allowed to make full utilization of their material propensities in the heavenly planets

Then they are given prosperous lives in righteous or aristocratic families

One must take advantage of these facilities and try to elevate to Krishna consciousness

Connected verses · 2

Texts 6.40 & 6.41

After allaying Arjuna’s fears that a fallen yogi loses everything, Krishna next describes the ‘destiny of such a transcendentalist’ in Texts 6.41 – 6.45

Texts 6.41 & 6.42

The destination of the more advanced yogis is explained as follows.

Further reading

The Destination Of The Unsuccessful Yogi

Unsuccessful transcendentalists obtain either heavenly enjoyment followed by an aristocratic birth(if they are slightly advanced) or birth in a family of wise transcendentalists that bring them immediate further training (if they are more advanced)

Chapter 6, section V: The Destination Of The Unsuccessful Yogi
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prāpyaafter achieving
  2. puṇya-kṛtāmof those who performed pious activities
  3. lokānplanets
  4. uṣitvāafter dwelling
  5. śāśvatīḥmany
  6. samāḥyears
  7. śucīnāmof the pious
  8. śrī-matāmof the prosperous
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: mokṣa, dhāma.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 6.41 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to liberation & destiny?

Practice

Reflect on what you want to remember at life's end.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 6.40Spiritual effort is not lostBG 6.42Spiritual effort is not lost
Live this todayEngage the Restless Mind in KṛṣṇaA practice from BG 6.34, 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
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