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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

6.6 6.8

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.7

The mind as friend or enemy; equanimity

Jīva · The soul

जितात्मन: प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहित: ।

शीतोष्णसुखदु:खेषु तथा मानापमानयो: ॥ ७ ॥

jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya

paramātmā samāhitaḥ

śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu

tathā mānāpamānayoḥ

Translation

For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.

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

Peace Through Mind Control

1
One who has conquered the mind has reached the Supersoul and remains peaceful in happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor.
2
Prabhupāda explains that controlling the mind leads one to follow the Supersoul’s direction. Kṛṣṇa consciousness brings this state at once.
3
Keep your mind fixed on the Supreme and follow His direction.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 6.7–9

Complete indifference to material existence by realized knowledge of Supersoul

SUMMARISED THEME 6A SYMPTOMS OF YOGARUDHA STAGE (6.7 – 6.9) A) If the mind is made a friend as per Text 6.6, the following symptoms develop, as the realizations deepen and grow, in the following sequence:

Completely neutral to all material existence and dualities (6.7)

Sees all object equally — Pebbles, gold, stone (6.8)

Fully satisfied by jnana and vijnana (6.8)

Sees all people equally — “most advanced stage” (6.9)

Intended goal for every living entity — to abide by the dictation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is seated in everyone’s heart as Paramatma

Deviation from the goal because of misled mind — When the mind is misled by the external illusory energy, one becomes entangled in material activities

Solution to avoid deviation

Mind must admit some superior dictation and follow it

When the mind is fixed on the superior nature, he has no alternative but to follow the dictations of the Supreme

Effect of controlling the mind – One automatically follows the dictation of Paramatma

Krishna consciousness offers this very practical solution

A devotee automatically follows the Lord’s dictation and therefore he is unaffected by dualities, being fully absorbed in the Supreme

This state is called ‘practical-samadhi’ FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 6.8

Mundane scholarship is not enough

Book Knowledge without realization of Supreme Truth is useless

How to realize book knowledge — By rendering transcendental devotional service to the Lord

Ref. Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234 “atah sri krsna...”

Bhagavad-gita is the science of Krishna “consciousness”

How one becomes Krishna conscious – Not just by mundane scholarship

One must be fortunate enough to associate with a person who is in pure consciousness

A Krishna conscious person is a realized soul — He is:

“Satisfied” with devotional service – Therefore he has realized knowledge by the grace of Krishna

“Steady” in convictions by strength of his realized knowledge

By mere academic knowledge one can be easily deluded and confused by apparent contradictions

“Self” controlled by the strength of his realized knowledge

“Scholarship” (mundane) and mental Speculation which are gold to others are as good as pebbles or stones

Need to associate with Krishna Conscious persons is emphasized

Bhagavad-gita is the science of Krishna Consciousness

Cannot be understood by mundane scholarship

Real fortune – To associate with one in pure consciousness

Connected verses · 1

Texts 6.6 & 6.7

In the next three verses, Krishna describes the symptoms of a person with a controlled mind on the yogarudha (advanced) platform.

The Yogarudha Stage – Giving Up Work

A yogi may even give up niskarma karma yoga when his mental control reaches the stage of regarding well-wishers, the envious, the pious and sinners equally.

Chapter 6, section II: The Yogarudha Stage – Giving Up Work