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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 6.26

Samādhi and a steadily controlled mind

यतो यतो निश्चलति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् ।

ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥ २६ ॥

yato yato niścalati

manaś cañcalam asthiram

tatas tato niyamyaitad

ātmany eva vaśaṁ nayet

Translation

From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.

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.

Bring the Mind Back

  1. 1Whenever the unsteady mind wanders, bring it back under the control of the self.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that serving Kṛṣṇa with purified senses brings them under full control and is the highest perfection of yoga.
  3. 3When your mind wanders, bring it back and engage your senses in serving Kṛṣṇa.

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.

Meditation

Bring the wandering mind back under control.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 6.26 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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The story behind it

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

All stories for chapter 6 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

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

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