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Chapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga · 47 verses

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Mind & yogaChapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.22

Samādhi and a steadily controlled mind

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया ।

यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति ॥ २० ॥

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्‍बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् ।

वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वत: ॥ २१ ॥

यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं तत: ।

यस्मिन्स्थितो न दु:खेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते ॥ २२ ॥

तं विद्याद्दु:खसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् ॥ २३ ॥

yatroparamate cittaṁ

niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā

yatra caivātmanātmānaṁ

paśyann ātmani tuṣyati

sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad

buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam

vetti yatra na caivāyaṁ

sthitaś calati tattvataḥ

yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ

manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ

yasmin sthito na duḥkhena

guruṇāpi vicālyate

taṁ vidyād duḥkha-saṁyoga-

viyogaṁ yoga-saṁjñitam

Translation

In the stage of perfection called trance, or samādhi, one’s mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one’s ability to see the Self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the Self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

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

The Greatest Gain

  1. 1One who gains spiritual happiness sees no greater gain and remains unshaken even in the greatest difficulty.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that this happiness is easily achieved through devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the ultimate goal of yoga.
  3. 3Accept life’s necessities simply, and continue your duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness through difficulties.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 6, Dhyāna-yoga: samādhi and a steadily controlled mind.

What it teaches

Theme summary

A disciplined mind is one's best friend.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: manas, indriya, yoga.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 6.22 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.

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Related verses

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

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