Reference: Course on The Bhagavad Gita
English Translation by Shri Purohit Swami
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Chapter 6
श्रीभगवानुवाच
अनाश्रितःकर्मफलंकार्यंकर्मकरोतियः।
ससंन्यासीचयोगीचननिरग्निर्नचाक्रियः।।6.1।।
6.1 “Lord Shri Krishna said: He who acts because it is his duty, not thinking of the consequences, is really spiritual and a true ascetic; and not he who merely observes rituals or who shuns all action.
यंसंन्यासमितिप्राहुर्योगंतंविद्धिपाण्डव।
नह्यसंन्यस्तसङ्कल्पोयोगीभवतिकश्चन।।6.2।।
6.2 O Arjuna! Renunciation is in fact what is called Right Action. No one can become spiritual who has not renounced all desire.
आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगंकर्मकारणमुच्यते।
योगारूढस्यतस्यैवशमःकारणमुच्यते।।6.3।।
6.3 For the sage who seeks the heights of spiritual meditation, practice is the only method, and when he has attained them, he must maintain himself there by continual self-control.
यदाहिनेन्द्रियार्थेषुनकर्मस्वनुषज्जते।
सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासीयोगारूढस्तदोच्यते।।6.4।।
6.4 When a man renounces even the thought of initiating action, when he is not interested in sense objects or any results which may flow from his acts, then in truth he understands spirituality.
उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानंनात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैवह्यात्मनोबन्धुरात्मैवरिपुरात्मनः।।6.5।।
6.5 Let him seek liberation by the help of his Highest Self, and let him never disgrace his own Self. For that Self is his only friend; yet it may also be his enemy.
बन्धुरात्माऽऽत्मनस्तस्ययेनात्मैवात्मनाजितः।
अनात्मनस्तुशत्रुत्वेवर्तेतात्मैवशत्रुवत्।।6.6।।
6.6 To him who has conquered his lower nature by Its help, the Self is a friend, but to him who has not done so, It is an enemy.
जितात्मनःप्रशान्तस्यपरमात्मासमाहितः।
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषुतथामानापमानयोः।।6.7।।
6.7 The Self of him who is self-controlled, and has attained peace is equally unmoved by heat or cold, pleasure or pain, honour or dishonour.
ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्माकूटस्थोविजितेन्द्रियः।
युक्तइत्युच्यतेयोगीसमलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः।।6.8।।
6.8 He who desires nothing but wisdom and spiritual insight, who has conquered his senses and who looks with the same eye upon a lump of earth, a stone or fine gold, is a real saint.
सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु।
साधुष्वपिचपापेषुसमबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते।।6.9।।
6.9 He looks impartially on all—lover, friend or foe; indifferent or hostile; alien or relative; virtuous or sinful.
BG Verses 6.1-6.9
A person who does not make any sacrifice, or who simply does not act, is not a yogi. To become a yogi he must sacrifice all personal desires. Then he must practice selfless action to reach the highest levels of meditation. Then his actions become wise, detached and spontaneous. The mind acts as an enemy only when one succumbs to its errors. So, he improves his mind without succumbing to its errors. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same. He is established in self-realization and fully satisfied in his knowledge. As he advances further, he comes to view everyone—friends or enemies, indifferent or hostile, righteous or sinful—with an impartial intellect.
NOTE: These verse further expand upon the route to liberation.
योगीयुञ्जीतसततमात्मानंरहसिस्थितः।
एकाकीयतचित्तात्मानिराशीरपरिग्रहः।।6.10।।
6.10 Let the student of spirituality try unceasingly to concentrate his mind; Let him live in seclusion, absolutely alone, with mind and personality controlled, free from desire and without possessions.
शुचौदेशेप्रतिष्ठाप्यस्थिरमासनमात्मनः।
नात्युच्छ्रितंनातिनीचंचैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्।।6.11।।
6.11 Having chosen a holy place, let him sit in a firm posture on a seat, neither too high nor too low, and covered with a grass mat, a deer skin and a cloth.
तत्रैकाग्रंमनःकृत्वायतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः।
उपविश्यासनेयुञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये।।6.12।।
6.12 Seated thus, his mind concentrated, its functions controlled and his senses governed, let him practise meditation for the purification of his lower nature.
समंकायशिरोग्रीवंधारयन्नचलंस्थिरः।
संप्रेक्ष्यनासिकाग्रंस्वंदिशश्चानवलोकयन्।।6.13।।
6.13 Let him hold body, head and neck erect, motionless and steady; let him look fixedly at the tip of his nose, turning neither to the right nor to the left.
प्रशान्तात्माविगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रतेस्थितः।
मनःसंयम्यमच्चित्तोयुक्तआसीतमत्परः।।6.14।।
6.14 With peace in his heart and nor fear, observing the vow of celibacy, with mind controlled and fixed on Me, let the student lose himself in contemplation of Me.
युञ्जन्नेवंसदाऽऽत्मानंयोगीनियतमानसः।
शान्तिंनिर्वाणपरमांमत्संस्थामधिगच्छति।।6.15।।
6.15 Thus keeping his mind always in communion with Me, and with his thoughts subdued, he shall attain that Peace which is mine and which will lead him to liberation at last.
BG Verses 6.10-6.15
The spiritual seeker ideally should live alone in seclusion, free of desires and constantly practicing concentration of mind in meditation. For meditation, he should prepare a seat in a sanctified place by placing Kuśh grass, deer skin, and a cloth, one over the other. The seat should be neither too high nor too low. Seated firmly, the seeker should strive to purify the mind by focusing it in meditation with one pointed concentration, controlling all thoughts and activities. He should hold his body, neck and head erect in a straight line and look fixedly at the tip of the nose. He should let his mind settle down by simply observing what is there. He should then contemplate on the universal reality. Thus, meditating constantly over time he should attain moksha.
NOTE: Here are some explicit instructions regarding the activity of meditation.
नात्यश्नतस्तुयोगोऽस्तिनचैकान्तमनश्नतः।
नचातिस्वप्नशीलस्यजाग्रतोनैवचार्जुन।।6.16।।
6.16 Meditation is not for him who eats too much, not for him who eats not at all; not for him who is overmuch addicted to sleep, not for him who is always awake.
युक्ताहारविहारस्ययुक्तचेष्टस्यकर्मसु।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्ययोगोभवतिदुःखहा।।6.17।।
6.17 But for him who regulates his food and recreation, who is balanced in action, in sleep and in waking, it shall dispel all unhappiness.
यदाविनियतंचित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते।
निःस्पृहःसर्वकामेभ्योयुक्तइत्युच्यतेतदा।।6.18।।
6.18 When the mind, completely controlled, is centered in the Self, and free from all earthly desires, then is the man truly spiritual.
यथादीपोनिवातस्थोनेङ्गतेसोपमास्मृता।
योगिनोयतचित्तस्ययुञ्जतोयोगमात्मनः।।6.19।।
6.19 The wise man who has conquered his mind and is absorbed in the Self is as a lamp which does not flicker, since it stands sheltered from every wind.
यत्रोपरमतेचित्तंनिरुद्धंयोगसेवया।
यत्रचैवात्मनाऽऽत्मानंपश्यन्नात्मनितुष्यति।।6.20।।
6.20 There, where the whole nature is seen in the light of the Self, where the man abides within his Self and is satisfied there, its functions restrained by its union with the Divine, the mind finds rest.
सुखमात्यन्तिकंयत्तद्बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम्।
वेत्तियत्रनचैवायंस्थितश्चलतितत्त्वतः।।6.21।।
6.21 When he enjoys the Bliss which passes sense, and which only the Pure Intellect can grasp, when he comes to rest within his own highest Self, never again will he stray from reality.
यंलब्ध्वाचापरंलाभंमन्यतेनाधिकंततः।
यस्मिन्स्थितोनदुःखेनगुरुणापिविचाल्यते।।6.22।।
6.22 Finding That, he will realise that there is no possession so precious. And when once established here, no calamity can disturb him.
तंविद्याद्दुःखसंयोगवियोगंयोगसंज्ञितम्।
सनिश्चयेनयोक्तव्योयोगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा।।6.23।।
6.23 This inner severance from the affliction of misery is spirituality. It should be practised with determination and with a heart which refuses to be depressed.
सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वासर्वानशेषतः।
मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामंविनियम्यसमन्ततः।।6.24।।
6.24 Renouncing every desire which imagination can conceive, controlling the senses at every point by the power of mind;
शनैःशनैरुपरमेद्बुद्ध्याधृतिगृहीतया।
आत्मसंस्थंमनःकृत्वानकिञ्चिदपिचिन्तयेत्।।6.25।।
6.25 Little by little, by the help of his reason controlled by fortitude, let him attain peace; and, fixing his mind on the Self, let him not think of any other thing.
यतोयतोनिश्चरतिमनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम्।
ततस्ततोनियम्यैतदात्मन्येववशंनयेत्।।6.26।।
6.26 When the volatile and wavering mind would wander, let him restrain it and bring it again to its allegiance to the Self.
प्रशान्तमनसंह्येनंयोगिनंसुखमुत्तमम्।
उपैतिशान्तरजसंब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम्।।6.27।।
6.27 Supreme Bliss is the lot of the sage, whose mind attains Peace, whose passions subside, who is without sin, and who becomes one with the Absolute.
युञ्जन्नेवंसदाऽऽत्मानंयोगीविगतकल्मषः।
सुखेनब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तंसुखमश्नुते।।6.28।।
6.28 Thus, free from sin, abiding always in the Eternal, the saint enjoys without effort the Bliss which flows from realization of the Infinite.
सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानंसर्वभूतानिचात्मनि।
ईक्षतेयोगयुक्तात्मासर्वत्रसमदर्शनः।।6.29।।
6.29 He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye;
योमांपश्यतिसर्वत्रसर्वंचमयिपश्यति।
तस्याहंनप्रणश्यामिसचमेनप्रणश्यति।।6.30।।
6.30 He who sees Me in everything and everything in Me, him shall I never forsake, nor shall he lose Me.
सर्वभूतस्थितंयोमांभजत्येकत्वमास्थितः।
सर्वथावर्तमानोऽपिसयोगीमयिवर्तते।।6.31।।
6.31 The sage who realizes the unity of life and who worships Me in all beings, lives in Me, whatever may be his lot.
आत्मौपम्येनसर्वत्रसमंपश्यतियोऽर्जुन।
सुखंवायदिवादुःखंसःयोगीपरमोमतः।।6.32।।
6.32 O Arjuna! He is the perfect saint who, taught by the likeness within himself, sees the same Self everywhere, whether the outer form be pleasurable or painful.
अर्जुनउवाच
योऽयंयोगस्त्वयाप्रोक्तःसाम्येनमधुसूदन।
एतस्याहंनपश्यामिचञ्चलत्वात्स्थितिंस्थिराम्।।6.33।।
6.33 Arjuna said: I do not see how I can attain this state of equanimity which Thou has revealed, owing to the restlessness of my mind.
चञ्चलंहिमनःकृष्णप्रमाथिबलवद्दृढम्।
तस्याहंनिग्रहंमन्येवायोरिवसुदुष्करम्।।6.34।।
6.34 My Lord! Verily, the mind is fickle and turbulent, obstinate and strong, yea extremely difficult as the wind to control.
श्रीभगवानुवाच
असंशयंमहाबाहोमनोदुर्निग्रहंचलं।
अभ्यासेनतुकौन्तेयवैराग्येणचगृह्यते।।6.35।।
6.35 Lord Shri Krishna replied: Doubtless, O Mighty One, the mind is fickle and exceedingly difficult to restrain, but, O Son of Kunti, with practice and renunciation it can be done.
असंयतात्मनायोगोदुष्प्रापइतिमेमतिः।
वश्यात्मनातुयतताशक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः।।6.36।।
6.36 It is not possible to attain Self-Realization if a man does not know how to control himself; but for him who, striving by proper means, learns such control, it is possible.
अर्जुनउवाच
अयतिःश्रद्धयोपेतोयोगाच्चलितमानसः।
अप्राप्ययोगसंसिद्धिंकांगतिंकृष्णगच्छति।।6.37।।
6.37 Arjuna asked: He who fails to control himself, whose mind falls from spiritual contemplation, who attains not perfection but retains his faith, what of him, my Lord?
कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिवनश्यति।
अप्रतिष्ठोमहाबाहोविमूढोब्रह्मणःपथि।।6.38।।
6.38 Having failed in both, my Lord, is he without hope, like a riven cloud having no support, lost on the spiritual road?
एतन्मेसंशयंकृष्णछेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः।
त्वदन्यःसंशयस्यास्यछेत्तानह्युपपद्यते।।6.39।।
6.39 My Lord! Thou art worthy to solve this doubt once and for all; save Thyself there is no one competent to do so.
श्रीभगवानुवाच
पार्थनैवेहनामुत्रविनाशस्तस्यविद्यते।
नहिकल्याणकृत्कश्िचद्दुर्गतिंतातगच्छति।।6.40।।
6.40 Lord Shri Krishna replied: My beloved child! There is no destruction for him, either in this world or in the next. No evil fate awaits him who treads the path of righteousness.
प्राप्यपुण्यकृतांलोकानुषित्वाशाश्वतीःसमाः।
शुचीनांश्रीमतांगेहेयोगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते।।6.41।।
6.41 Having reached the worlds where the righteous dwell, and having remained there for many years, he who has slipped from the path of spirituality will be born again in the family of the pure, benevolent and prosperous.
अथवायोगिनामेवकुलेभवतिधीमताम्।
एतद्धिदुर्लभतरंलोकेजन्मयदीदृशम्।।6.42।।
6.42 Or, he may be born in the family of the wise sages, though a birth like this is, indeed, very difficult to obtain.
तत्रतंबुद्धिसंयोगंलभतेपौर्वदेहिकम्।
यततेचततोभूयःसंसिद्धौकुरुनन्दन।।6.43।।
6.43 Then the experience acquired in his former life will revive, and with its help he will strive for perfection more eagerly than before.
पूर्वाभ्यासेनतेनैवह्रियतेह्यवशोऽपिसः।
जिज्ञासुरपियोगस्यशब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते।।6.44।।
6.44 Unconsciously he will return to the practices of his old life; so that he who tries to realise spiritual consciousness is certainly superior to one who only talks of it.
प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तुयोगीसंशुद्धकिल्बिषः।
अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततोयातिपरांगतिम्।।6.45।।
6.45 Then after many lives, the student of spirituality, who earnestly strives, and whose sins are absolved, attains perfection and reaches the Supreme.
तपस्विभ्योऽधिकोयोगीज्ञानिभ्योऽपिमतोऽधिकः।
कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिकोयोगीतस्माद्योगीभवार्जुन।।6.46।।
6.46 The wise man is superior to the ascetic and to the scholar and to the man of action; therefore be thou a wise man, O Arjuna!
योगिनामपिसर्वेषांमद्गतेनान्तरात्मना।
श्रद्धावान्भजतेयोमांसमेयुक्ततमोमतः।।6.47।।
6.47 I look upon him as the best of mystics who, full of faith, worshippeth Me and abideth in Me.”
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Summary
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