Dhyana Yoga - The Yoga of Meditation

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

The Supreme Lord said: One who performs their obligatory duty without depending on the fruits of action is a true sannyasi and yogi — not one who merely renounces fire rituals, nor one who merely renounces action.

यं सन्न्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव। न ह्यसन्न्यस्तसङ्कल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन॥

Know that what they call renunciation (sannyasa) is the same as yoga, O Pandava. No one becomes a yogi without renouncing selfish resolve (sankalpa).

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते। योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते॥

For the sage aspiring to attain yoga, action is said to be the means. For one who has attained yoga, tranquility (cessation of action) is said to be the means.

यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते। सर्वसङ्कल्पसन्न्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते॥

When one is not attached to sense objects or to actions, having renounced all selfish resolve — then that person is said to be established in yoga.

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्। आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥

One should uplift oneself by one's own self and not degrade oneself. For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः। अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्॥

For one who has conquered the self by the self, the self is a friend. But for one who has not conquered the self, the self acts as an enemy.

जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः। शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः॥

For one who has conquered the self and is tranquil, the Supreme Self is steady — in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor.

ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः। युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः॥

Satisfied by knowledge and realized wisdom, unchanging, with senses conquered — such a yogi is said to be united. One who looks equally upon a clod of earth, a stone, and gold.

सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु। साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते॥

One who maintains equal vision towards well-wishers, friends, enemies, the indifferent, the neutral, the hateful, relatives, the righteous, and the sinful — that person excels.

योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः। एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः॥

The yogi should constantly concentrate the mind, staying in a secluded place, alone, with mind and body controlled, free from desires and possessiveness.

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः। नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्॥

In a clean place, having established a firm seat for oneself — neither too high nor too low — covered with kusha grass, a deerskin, and a cloth —

तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः। उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये॥

Seated there on the seat, making the mind one-pointed, with the activities of the mind and senses controlled, one should practice yoga for self-purification.

समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः। सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्॥

Holding the body, head, and neck erect, still and firm, gazing at the tip of one's own nose, without looking around —

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः। मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः॥

With mind at peace, free from fear, established in the vow of celibacy, controlling the mind, with thoughts fixed on Me — one should sit engaged in yoga, devoted to Me as the supreme goal.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः। शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति॥

Thus constantly concentrating the mind, the yogi with a disciplined mind attains the supreme peace of nirvana, abiding in Me.

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः। न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन॥

Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who does not eat at all, O Arjuna. It is not for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who stays awake too much.

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु। युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा॥

For one who is balanced in eating and recreation, balanced in effort in actions, and balanced in sleep and waking — yoga becomes the destroyer of suffering.

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते। निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा॥

When the fully disciplined mind rests in the Self alone, free from longing for all desires — then one is said to be united (yukta) in yoga.

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता। योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः॥

As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker — such is the simile given for the yogi of controlled mind, practicing yoga of the Self.

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया। यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति॥

Where the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, becomes quiet; where, seeing the Self by the self, one is satisfied in the Self —

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम्। वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः॥

In which one experiences infinite happiness that is grasped by the intellect and beyond the senses — and where, once established, one never deviates from the truth —

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

Having gained which, one considers no other gain to be greater; and established in which, one is not shaken even by the heaviest sorrow —

तं विद्याद्दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम्। स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा॥

Know that state of disconnection from the union with sorrow as what is called yoga. That yoga should be practiced with determination and an undaunted mind.

सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः। मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं विनियम्य समन्ततः॥

Completely abandoning all desires born of mental resolve, and fully restraining the group of senses from all sides by the mind alone —

शनैः शनैरुपरमेद्बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया। आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत्॥

Gradually, step by step, one should become still with the intellect held firm by conviction. Establishing the mind in the Self, one should not think of anything at all.

यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम्। ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत्॥

Wherever the restless and unsteady mind wanders, from there one should restrain it and bring it back under the control of the Self alone.

प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम्। उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम्॥

Supreme happiness comes to the yogi whose mind is peaceful, whose passion is calmed, who has become one with Brahman, and who is free from sin.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मषः। सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते॥

Thus constantly engaging the self in yoga, the yogi freed from impurities easily enjoys the infinite happiness of contact with Brahman.

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि। ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः॥

One whose self is united in yoga sees the Self dwelling in all beings and all beings in the Self — seeing equally everywhere.

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

One who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me — I am never lost to such a person, nor is that person ever lost to Me.

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

One who, established in unity, worships Me as dwelling in all beings — that yogi, however they may live and act, abides in Me.

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

O Arjuna, one who sees equally everywhere — whether happiness or sorrow — by comparing others with oneself, is considered the supreme yogi.

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

Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, this yoga of equanimity that You have described — I do not see how it can have a firm foundation, due to the restlessness of the mind.

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

The mind is indeed restless, O Krishna — turbulent, strong, and obstinate. I consider controlling it as difficult as controlling the wind.

असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्। अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥

The Supreme Lord said: Undoubtedly, O mighty-armed, the mind is restless and difficult to control. But, O Kaunteya, it can be mastered through practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya).

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

In My opinion, yoga is difficult to attain for one whose self is uncontrolled. But for one whose self is controlled and who strives, it is possible to attain through proper means.

अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः। अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति॥

Arjuna said: O Krishna, what is the fate of one who has faith but lacks effort, whose mind deviates from yoga, and who fails to attain perfection in yoga?

कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति। अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि॥

O mighty-armed, does such a person, fallen from both paths, bewildered on the path to Brahman, not perish like a torn cloud — without any foundation?

एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः। त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते॥

O Krishna, You should completely dispel this doubt of mine. No one other than You is capable of removing this doubt.

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

The Supreme Lord said: O Partha, there is no destruction for such a person either in this world or the next. Indeed, dear one, no one who does good ever comes to a bad end.

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः। शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते॥

Having attained the worlds of the meritorious and having dwelt there for many years, one who has fallen from yoga is reborn in the house of the pure and prosperous.

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

Or one is born into a family of wise yogis. Indeed, such a birth is very rare in this world.

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

There one regains the wisdom and spiritual impressions from the previous body. Then one strives again for perfection, O joy of the Kurus.

पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः। जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते॥

By the force of previous practice, one is irresistibly drawn toward yoga. Even a mere inquirer about yoga transcends the ritualistic Vedic practices.

प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः। अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम्॥

But the yogi who strives with effort, purified of all sins, and perfected through many births, then attains the supreme destination.

तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः। कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन॥

The yogi is greater than the ascetics, greater even than the scholars, and greater than the ritualists. Therefore, be a yogi, O Arjuna.

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना। श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः॥

And of all yogis, one who worships Me with faith, with the inner self absorbed in Me — that person is considered by Me to be the most united, the highest yogi.