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Chapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga · 47 verses

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Mind & yogaChapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga
6.126.14

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.13

Yoga practice, posture and moderation

समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिर: ।

सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् ॥ १३ ॥

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थित: ।

मन: संयम्य मच्च‍ित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्पर: ॥ १४ ॥

samaṁ kāya-śiro-grīvaṁ

dhārayann acalaṁ sthiraḥ

samprekṣya nāsikāgraṁ svaṁ

diśaś cānavalokayan

praśāntātmā vigata-bhīr

brahmacāri-vrate sthitaḥ

manaḥ saṁyamya mac-citto

yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ

Translation

One should hold one’s body, neck and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of the nose. Thus, with an unagitated, subdued mind, devoid of fear, completely free from sex life, one should meditate upon Me within the heart and make Me the ultimate goal of life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Yoga’s Goal Is Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1Keep the body, neck and head straight, look steadily at the nose tip, and meditate on Kṛṣṇa within the heart.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that yoga aims to see Kṛṣṇa within the heart as Paramātmā, the four-handed form of Viṣṇu.
  3. 3Make Kṛṣṇa your ultimate goal, and practice controlling the mind and avoiding sense gratification.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 6, Dhyāna-yoga: yoga practice, posture and moderation.

What it teaches

Theme summary

A disciplined mind is one's best friend.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 6.13 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to mind & yoga?

Practice

Sit quietly for ten minutes and gently return the mind.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 6 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 6.10Yoga practice, posture and moderationBG 6.11Yoga practice, posture and moderation

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.