The Yoga of Meditation

अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः ।स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः ॥

anāśritaḥ karmaphalaṃ kāryaṃ karma karoti yaḥ |sa saṃnyāsī ca yogī ca na niragnirna cākriyaḥ ||

Krishna said: One who does the work that ought to be done without depending on its results is a true renouncer and a true yogi, not one who merely gives up the sacred fire and rituals.

यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव ।न ह्यसंन्यस्तसंकल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन ॥

yaṃ saṃnyāsamiti prāhuryogaṃ taṃ viddhi pāṇḍava |na hyasaṃnyastasaṃkalpo yogī bhavati kaścana ||

Know that what people call renunciation is really yoga, Arjuna, for no one becomes a yogi without giving up selfish plans and wishes.

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते ।योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते ॥

ārurukṣormuneryogaṃ karma kāraṇamucyate |yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇamucyate ||

For a seeker who wants to climb to yoga, action is said to be the means. For one who has already reached yoga, calmness is said to be the means.

यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते ।सर्वसंकल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते ॥

yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu na karmasvanuṣajjate |sarvasaṃkalpasaṃnyāsī yogārūḍhastadocyate ||

When a person is no longer attached to sense objects or to actions, and has given up all selfish plans, that person is said to have reached yoga.

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः ।अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥

bandhurātmātmanastasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ |anātmanastu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatruvat ||

For one who has mastered themselves, the self is a friend. But for one who has not, the self behaves like an enemy.

जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः ।शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः ॥

jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ |śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ ||

For one who has mastered themselves and is at peace, the higher Self stays steady in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honour and insult.

ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः ।युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ॥

jñānavijñānatṛptātmā kūṭastho vijitendriyaḥ |yukta ityucyate yogī samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ ||

The yogi who is satisfied with knowledge and its realisation, who is unshaken and has mastered the senses, and to whom a lump of earth, a stone and gold are all the same, is called steady in yoga.

सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु ।साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥

suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu |sādhuṣvapi ca pāpeṣu samabuddhirviśiṣyate ||

One who has the same attitude toward well-wishers, friends, enemies, strangers, neutral people, the hateful, relatives, the good and the wicked, stands out among all.

योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः ।एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः ॥

yogī yuñjīta satatamātmānaṃ rahasi sthitaḥ |ekākī yatacittātmā nirāśīraparigrahaḥ ||

A yogi should always keep the mind focused, staying alone in a quiet place, with body and mind under control, free from cravings and possessions.

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः ।नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् ॥

śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiramāsanamātmanaḥ |nātyucchritaṃ nātinīcaṃ cailājinakuśottaram ||

In a clean place, one should set up a firm seat, neither too high nor too low, covered with kusha grass, a deerskin and a cloth.

तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः ।उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये ॥

tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yatacittendriyakriyaḥ |upaviśyāsane yuñjyādyogamātmaviśuddhaye ||

Sitting on that seat, making the mind one-pointed and controlling thoughts and senses, one should practise yoga to purify oneself.

समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः ।सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् ॥

samaṃ kāyaśirogrīvaṃ dhārayannacalaṃ sthiraḥ |samprekṣya nāsikāgraṃ svaṃ diśaścānavalokayan ||

Holding the body, head and neck straight and still, steady, with the gaze resting at the tip of the nose and not looking around,

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः ।मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः ॥

praśāntātmā vigatabhīrbrahmacārivrate sthitaḥ |manaḥ saṃyamya maccitto yukta āsīta matparaḥ ||

calm and fearless, firm in the vow of self-restraint, with the mind controlled and thinking of me, one should sit steady, holding me as the highest goal.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः ।शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति ॥

yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī niyatamānasaḥ |śāntiṃ nirvāṇaparamāṃ matsaṃsthāmadhigacchati ||

Always keeping the mind focused in this way, the yogi of controlled mind reaches peace, the highest freedom, which rests in me.

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः ।न चाति स्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥

nātyaśnatastu yogo'sti na caikāntamanaśnataḥ |na cāti svapnaśīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna ||

Yoga is not for one who eats too much or eats nothing at all, Arjuna, nor for one who sleeps too much or stays awake too much.

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥

yuktāhāravihārasya yuktaceṣṭasya karmasu |yuktasvapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkhahā ||

For one who is balanced in food and recreation, balanced in effort at work, and balanced in sleep and waking, yoga becomes the remover of sorrow.

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते ।निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥

yadā viniyataṃ cittamātmanyevāvatiṣṭhate |niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ityucyate tadā ||

When the well-trained mind rests in the Self alone, free from longing for anything, then a person is said to be steady in yoga.

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया ।यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति ॥

yatroparamate cittaṃ niruddhaṃ yogasevayā |yatra caivātmanātmānaṃ paśyannātmani tuṣyati ||

When the mind, held back by the practice of yoga, becomes still, and when, seeing the Self through the self, one is content in the Self,

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद् बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् ।वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः ॥

sukhamātyantikaṃ yattad buddhigrāhyamatīndriyam |vetti yatra na caivāyaṃ sthitaścalati tattvataḥ ||

when one knows that boundless joy which is grasped by understanding and lies beyond the senses, and, resting there, never moves away from the truth,

यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं ततः ।यस्मिन्स्थितो न दुःखेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते ॥

yaṃ labdhvā cāparaṃ lābhaṃ manyate nādhikaṃ tataḥ |yasminsthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate ||

having gained which one thinks no other gain is greater, and resting in which one is not shaken even by the heaviest sorrow,

तं विद्याद्‌दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् ।स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा ॥

taṃ vidyādduḥkhasaṃyogaviyogaṃ yogasaṃjñitam |sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo'nirviṇṇacetasā ||

know that this is called yoga: the breaking of the bond with sorrow. This yoga should be practised with firm resolve and a mind that does not lose heart.

संकल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः ।मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं विनियम्य समन्ततः ॥

saṃkalpaprabhavānkāmāṃstyaktvā sarvānaśeṣataḥ |manasaivendriyagrāmaṃ viniyamya samantataḥ ||

Giving up completely all desires born of selfish wishes, and holding back all the senses from every side with the mind,

शनैः शनैरुपरमेद्‌बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया ।आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किंचिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥

śanaiḥ śanairuparamedbuddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā |ātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiṃcidapi cintayet ||

one should slowly grow quiet, with understanding held firm. Fixing the mind in the Self, one should think of nothing else.

यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् ।ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥

yato yato niścarati manaścañcalamasthiram |tatastato niyamyaitadātmanyeva vaśaṃ nayet ||

Whenever the restless, unsteady mind wanders off, one should draw it back from there and bring it under the control of the Self.

प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् ।उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ॥

praśāntamanasaṃ hyenaṃ yoginaṃ sukhamuttamam |upaiti śāntarajasaṃ brahmabhūtamakalmaṣam ||

The highest joy comes to the yogi whose mind is at peace, whose restless passions are calmed, who is free from wrong and has become one with Brahman.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मषः ।सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते ॥

yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī vigatakalmaṣaḥ |sukhena brahmasaṃsparśamatyantaṃ sukhamaśnute ||

Always keeping the mind focused in this way, the yogi, free from wrong, easily enjoys the boundless joy of contact with Brahman.

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि ।ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः ॥

sarvabhūtasthamātmānaṃ sarvabhūtāni cātmani |īkṣate yogayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ ||

One whose mind is steady in yoga sees the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self. Such a person sees the same everywhere.

यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति ।तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति ॥

yo māṃ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṃ ca mayi paśyati |tasyāhaṃ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati ||

One who sees me everywhere and sees everything in me is never lost to me, and I am never lost to that person.

सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः ।सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते ॥

sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yo māṃ bhajatyekatvamāsthitaḥ |sarvathā vartamāno'pi sa yogī mayi vartate ||

The yogi who, rooted in oneness, worships me as dwelling in all beings lives in me, whatever the way they live.

आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन ।सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं स योगी परमो मतः ॥

ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṃ paśyati yo'rjuna |sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ sa yogī paramo mataḥ ||

Arjuna, the one who, by comparing others with themselves, sees pleasure and pain everywhere as equal, is considered the highest yogi.

योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन ।एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चञ्चलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थिराम् ॥

yo'yaṃ yogastvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhusūdana |etasyāhaṃ na paśyāmi cañcalatvātsthitiṃ sthirām ||

Arjuna said: Krishna, this yoga of evenness that you have described, I cannot see how it can last for long, because the mind is so restless.

चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्‌दृढम् ।तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥

cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavaddṛḍham |tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyoriva suduṣkaram ||

For the mind is restless, Krishna: stormy, strong and stubborn. I think controlling it is as hard as controlling the wind.

असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः ।वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः ॥

asaṃyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ |vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo'vāptumupāyataḥ ||

I agree that yoga is hard to reach for one who has no self-control. But one who has self-control and keeps trying can reach it by the right means.

अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः ।अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥

ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāccalitamānasaḥ |aprāpya yogasaṃsiddhiṃ kāṃ gatiṃ kṛṣṇa gacchati ||

Arjuna said: Krishna, what happens to someone who has faith but does not try hard enough, whose mind slips away from yoga before reaching its goal? Where does that person go?

कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति ।अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि ॥

kaccinnobhayavibhraṣṭaśchinnābhramiva naśyati |apratiṣṭho mahābāho vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi ||

Having missed both worldly success and the spiritual goal, does such a person not fade away like a broken cloud, without support and lost on the path to Brahman, mighty Krishna?

एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः ।त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥

etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ |tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate ||

Krishna, please remove this doubt of mine completely. There is no one but you who can clear it away.

पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते ।न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद्‌दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति ॥

pārtha naiveha nāmutra vināśastasya vidyate |na hi kalyāṇakṛtkaściddurgatiṃ tāta gacchati ||

Krishna said: Arjuna, such a person is not destroyed, either in this world or the next. For no one who does good, my friend, ever comes to a bad end.

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः ।शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते ॥

prāpya puṇyakṛtāṃ lokānuṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ |śucīnāṃ śrīmatāṃ gehe yogabhraṣṭo'bhijāyate ||

One who has fallen from yoga reaches the worlds of the righteous, lives there for many long years, and is then born into a home of good and prosperous people.

अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम् ।एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम् ॥

athavā yogināmeva kule bhavati dhīmatām |etaddhi durlabhataraṃ loke janma yadīdṛśam ||

Or such a person is born into a family of wise yogis. A birth like that is very hard to gain in this world.

तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम् ।यतते च ततो भूयः संसिद्धौ कुरुनन्दन ॥

tatra taṃ buddhisaṃyogaṃ labhate paurvadehikam |yatate ca tato bhūyaḥ saṃsiddhau kurunandana ||

There they regain the understanding they had in their former body, and from there they strive again for perfection, Arjuna.

पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः ।जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते ॥

pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva hriyate hyavaśo'pi saḥ |jijñāsurapi yogasya śabdabrahmātivartate ||

Carried forward by that earlier practice, they are drawn on almost in spite of themselves. Even one who simply wishes to know about yoga goes beyond the mere words of ritual scripture.

प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः ।अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥

prayatnādyatamānastu yogī saṃśuddhakilbiṣaḥ |anekajanmasaṃsiddhastato yāti parāṃ gatim ||

But the yogi who strives with real effort, cleansed of wrongs and perfected over many births, then reaches the highest goal.

तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः ।कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन ॥

tapasvibhyo'dhiko yogī jñānibhyo'pi mato'dhikaḥ |karmibhyaścādhiko yogī tasmādyogī bhavārjuna ||

The yogi is greater than those who practise austerities, greater even than the learned and greater than those devoted to rituals. So be a yogi, Arjuna.

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना ।श्रद्धावान् भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः ॥

yogināmapi sarveṣāṃ madgatenāntarātmanā |śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṃ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ ||

And of all yogis, the one who worships me with faith, with their inner self absorbed in me, I consider the most closely united with me.