37. Look In, Be Complete Before Any Conclusion

You are your best friend and you are your worst enemy. Whether you wish to degrade yourself or raise yourself by yourself is in your hands. Krsna gives the technique to unite with Him in yoga, the Supreme Consciousness by becoming a Yogi. ...

śrībhagavānuvāca anāśritaḥ karmaphalaṃ kāryaṃ karma karoti yaḥ I sa sannyāsī ca yogī ca na niragnirna cā'kriyaḥ II 6.1

6.1 Bhagavān says: One who performs his actions without being attached to the fruit (outcome) of his work is a Sannyāsi, and he is truly an ascetic; a Yogi also; not the one who renounces to light the fire and performs no action.

yaṃ sannyāsamiti prāhur yogaṃ taṃ viddhi pāṇḍava I na hyasannyastasaṅkalpo yogī bhavati kaścana II 6.2

6.2 O Pāṇḍava, what is called renunciation, or sannyāsa, you must know to be the same as yoga, or uniting oneself with the Supreme., for never can anyone become a yogī, until he renounces the desire for self-gratification [saṅkalpa].

ārurukṣormuner yogaṃ karma kāraṇamucyate I yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇamucyate II 6.3

6.3 A one desirious of achieving the state of yoga or no-mind state, action is said to be the means and for the one who is already elevated in yoga, cessation from all actions is said to be the means.

yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu na karmasvanuṣajjate I sarvasankalpasannyāsī yogārūḍhastadocyate II 6.4

6.4 Any one is said to have attained the state of yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in result focused activities.

uddhared ātmanātmānaṃ natmānam avasādayet I ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ II 6.5

6.5 You are your own friend; you are your own enemy. Evolve yourself through the Self and do not degrade yourself.

bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ I anātmanastu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatruvat II 6.6

6.6 For him who has conquered the Self, the Self is the best of friends; for one who has failed to do so, his Self will remain the greatest enemy.

jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ I śītoṣṇa-sukha duḥkheṣu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ II 6.7

6.7 For one who has conquered the self, who has attained tranquility, the Supreme is already reached. Such a person remains in this state in happiness or distress, heat or cold, honor or dishonor.

jñāna-vijñāna-tṛptātmā kūṭastho vijitendriyaḥ I yukta ityucyate yogī sama-loṣṭāśma-kāñcanaḥ II 6.8

6.8 A person whose mind is contented because of spiritual knowledge, who has subdued his senses and to whom stone and gold are same and who is satisfied with what he is having, is said to be established in Self-realization and is called an enlightened being.

suhṛn-mitrāry-udāsīna madhyastha-dveṣya bandhuṣu I sadhuṣvapi ca pāpeṣu sama-buddhir viśiṣyate II 6.9

6.9 A person is considered truly advanced when he regards honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners all with an equal mind.

yogī yuñjīta satatam ātmānaṃ rahasi sthitaḥ I ekākī yatachittātmā nirāśīraparigrahaḥ II 6.10

6.10 A Yogī should always try to concentrate his mind on the Supreme Self; situated in a secluded place, he should carefully control his mind without being attracted by anything and should be free from the feeling of possessiveness.

śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ I nātyucchritaṃ nātinīcaṃ cailājina-kuśottaram II 6.11

6.11 On a clean and pure place, one should establish his seat by laying kuśa grass, a deer skin and a cloth, one over another, neither too high nor too low.

tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yata-cittendriya-kriyaḥ I upaviśyāsane yuñjyād yogamātmaviśuddhaye II 6.12

6.12 Sitting firmly on that pure seat, the yogi should practice the purification of the self by controlling the activities of mind and the senses

samaṃ kāyaśirogrīvaṃ dhārayannacalaṃ sthiraḥ I samprekṣya nāsikāgraṃ svaṃ diśaścānavalokayan II 6.13

6.13 Holding the body, head and neck steady, look at the tip of your nose without looking in any other direction.

praśāntātmā vigatabhīr brahmacārivrate sthitaḥ I manaḥ saṃyamya maccitto yukta āsī ta matparaḥ II 6.14

6.14 Sit with an unagitated mind, free from fear and in tune with Existence, controlling the mind, focusing it on Me and make Me the supreme goal.

yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī niyatamānasaḥ I śāntiṃ nirvāṇa paramāṃ mat-saṃsthām adhigacchati II 6.15

6.15 Always practising control over the mind and situated in the Self, the Yogī attains peace, the supreme liberation and My kingdom.

nātyaśnatastu yogosti na caikāntamanaśnataḥ I na cāti svapnaśīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna II 6.16

6.16 Yoga is neither eating too much nor eating too little; it is neither sleeping too much nor sleeping too little, Oh Arjuna.

yuktāhāra vihārasya yuktaceṣṭasya karmasu I yukta-svapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkhahā II 6.17

6.17 One who is regulated in food, rest, recreation and work, sleep and wakefulness, can reduce misery.

yadā viniyataṃ cittam ātmanyevāvatiṣṭhate I niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ityucyate tadā II 6.18

6.18 When the mind is disciplined and one is situated in the Self, free from all desires, then one is said to be situated in yoga.

yathā dīpo nivātastho neṅgate sopamā smṛ tā I yogino yatacittasya yuñjato yogamātmanaḥ II 6.19

6.19 As a lamp in a place without wind does not waver, so also the yogī, whose mind is controlled remains steady, engaged in yoga, in the Self.

yatroparamate cittaṃ niruddhaṃ yogasevayā I yatra caivātmanātmānaṃ paśyannātmani tuṣyati II 6.20 6.20 In yoga, the mind becomes quiet and the Self is satisfied by the Self in the Self.

sukhamātyantikaṃ yat tad buddhigrāhyamatīndriyam I vetti yatra na caivāyaṃ sthitaścalati tattvataḥ II 6.21

6.21 Supreme bliss is grasped by intelligence transcending the senses. The person who knows this is based in reality.

yaṃ labdhvā cāparaṃ lābhaṃ manyate nādhikaṃ tataḥ I yasminsthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate II 6.22

6.22 By attaining that Supreme, one does not consider any other gain as being greater. By being situated in the Supreme, one is not shaken by the greatest of misery.

taṃ vidyād duḥkhasaṃ yogaviyogaṃ yoga-saṃjñitam I sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo'nirviṇṇacetasā II 6.23

6.23 When yoga is practiced with determination without deviating, the misery by contact with material senses is removed.

saṅkalpa-prabhavān kāmāṃs tyaktvā sarvānaśeṣataḥ I manasaivendriya-grāmaṃ viniyamya samantataḥ II 6.24

6.24 Giving up completely all the fantasies born of the mind, one can regulate all the senses from all the sides by the mind.

śanaiḥ śanairuparamed buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā I ātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcidapi cintayet II 6.25

6.25 Gradually, step by step, one should become established in the Self, held by the conviction of intelligence, with the mind not thinking of anything else.

yato yato niścarati manaś cañcalamasthiram I tatas tato niyamyaitad ātmanyeva vaśaṃ nayet II 6.26

6.26 From wherever the mind becomes agitated due to its wandering and unsteady nature, from there, one must certainly bring it under the control of the Self.

praśānta-manasaṃ hy enaṃ yoginaṃ sukhamuttamam I upaiti śāntarajasaṃ brahma-bhūtam akalmaṣam II 6.27

6.27 The yogi whose mind is peaceful attains the highest happiness; his passion is pacified and he is free from sins as he is liberated by the Supreme.

yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī vigatakalmaṣaḥ I sukhena brahma-saṃsparś amatyantaṃ sukhamaśnute II 6.28

6.28 The yogi always engaged in the Self and free from material contamination, is in touch with the Supreme and attains the highest happiness.

sarvabhūtastham-ātmānaṃ sarvabhūtāni cātmani I īkṣate yogayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ II 6.29

6.29 The Yogī sees the Supreme situated in all beings and also all beings situated in the Supreme. One established in the Self sees the Supreme everywhere.

yo māṃ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṃ ca mayi paśyati I tasyāhaṃ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati II 6.30

6.30 For one who sees Me everywhere and who sees everything in Me, for him I am never lost nor is he lost to Me.

sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yo māṃ bhajatyekatvamāsthitaḥ I sarvathā vartamānopi sa yogī mayi vartate II 6.31

6.31 He who is in oneness with Me in all respects, worships Me situated in all beings and remains present in Me.

ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṃ paśyati yorjuna I sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ sa yogī paramo mataḥ II 6.32

6.32 One who, by comparision to his own Self, sees the true oneness of all beings, in both their happiness or misery, is Supreme Yogi in My opinion, Arjuna.

arjuna uvāca

yoyaṃ yogastvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhusūdana I etasyāhaṃ na paśyāmi cañcalatvātsthitiṃ sthirām II 6.33

6.33 Arjuna says: O Madhusūdana, I am not able to see this system of yoga as told by You in the situation of the mind being restless and not steady.

cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthī balavad dṛḍham I tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyoriva suduṣkaram II 6.34

6.34 O Kṛṣṇa, the wavering mind is agitated, strong and firm. I think it is difficult to control the mind like it is difficult to control the wind.

śrībhagavānuvāca asaṃśayaṃ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṃ calam I abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate II 6.35

6.35 Bhagavān says: O mighty-armed Kaunteya (son of Kuntī), it is undoubtedly difficult to control the wavering mind but by practice and detachment, it can be controlled.

asaṃyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ I vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo vāptum upāyataḥ II 6.36

6.36 For one whose mind is uncontrolled, it is difficult to attain yoga in My opinion. But, it is practical to achieve control over the mind by appropriate means.

arjuna uvāca ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāc calita mānasaḥ I aprāpya yoga-saṃsiddhiṃ kāṃ gatiṃ kṛṣṇa gacchati II 6.37

6.37 Arjuna says: O Kṛṣṇa, if a person is engaged in yoga with faith but does not attain yoga because of the wavering mind, what destination does he achieve

kaccinnobhayavibhraṣṭaś chinnābhramiva naśyati I apratiṣṭho mahābāho vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi II 6.38

6.38 O mighty-armed Kṛṣṇa, does the person who deviated from the path perish, torn like a cloud without any position?

etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ I tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate II 6.39

6.39 This is my doubt, O Kṛṣṇa and I request You to dispel it completely. Certainly, there is no one to be found other than You who can remove this doubt.

śrībhagavānuvāca

pārtha naiveha nāmutra vināśastasya vidyate I na hi kalyāṇakṛtkaścid durgatiṃ tāta gacchati II 6.40

6.40 Bhagavān says: O Pārtha, the person engaged in activities for good does not meet with destruction either in this world or the next life; he never faces degradation.

prāpya puṇyakṛtāṃ lokān uṣitvā śāśvatiḥ samāḥ I śucīnāṃ śrī matāṃ gehe yogabhraṣṭo'bhijāyate II 6.41

6.41 The person who has fallen from yoga {yogabṛasṭa] after many

years of living in the planets of the pious and doing virtuous deeds, takes birth in the house of the virtuous and prosperous.

athavā yogināmeva kule bhavati dhī matām I etaddhi durlabhataraṃ loke janma yadīdṛśam II 6.42

6.42 Or the Yogī certainly takes birth in a family of wise people. Certainly, such a birth is rare in this world.

tatra taṃ buddhisaṃyogaṃ labhate paurva dehikam I yatate ca tato bhūyaḥ saṃsiddhau kurunandana II 6.43

6.43 O son of Kuru, on taking such a birth, he revives the intelligence, consciousness of the previous body, and tries again to attain complete success [yoga].

pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva hriyate hyavaśo'pi saḥ I jijñāsurapi yogasya śabda-brahmātivartate II 6.44

6.44 Due to the practice in his previous life, he certainly gets attracted automatically to yoga and he is inquisitive about yoga and transcends the scriptures.

prayatnādyatamānastu yogī saṃśuddhakilbiṣaḥ I aneka-janmasaṃ-siddhas tato yāti parāṃ gatim II 6.45

6.45 And when the Yogī engages himself with sincere endevour in progressing fruther, being cleansed of all incompletions, then ultimately, achieving perfection [saṁsiddhi] after many births of practice, he attains the highest state [parām-gati].

tapasvibhyodhiko yogī jñānibhyo'pi mato 'dhikaḥ I karmibhyaścādhiko yogī tasmādyogī bhavārjuna II 6.46

6.46 A Yogī is greater than the ascetic [tapasvi], greater than the wise [jñāni] and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, Arjuna, do become a Yogī.

yogināmapi sarveṣāṃ madgatenāntarātmanā I śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṃ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ II 6.47

6.47 Of all Yogīs, one who always lives in Me, thinking of Me within himself, who worships Me in full faith, he is the most intimately united with Me in Yoga and is the highest of all Yogīs; that is My opinion.

iti śrīmad bhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyām yogaśāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjuna saṃvāde dhyānayogo nāma ṣaṣtho'dhyāyaḥ II

In the Upaniṣad of Śrimad Bhagavad Gītā, the scripture of yoga dealing with Brahmavidyā Yogaśāstra, the science of Brahman, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇārjuna saṁvād, dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Arjuna, this is sixth chapter named,

Dhyāna Yogaḥ**,** 'The Yoga of the Path of Meditation.'

Look in, create the space of completion before coming to any conclusion! This is the message of this chapter*, Dhyāna Yogaḥ*. Kṛṣṇa continues His answers from the previous chapter.