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Chapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga · 47 verses

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Liberation & destinyChapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga
6.416.43

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.42

Spiritual effort is not lost

अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम् ।

एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम् ॥ ४२ ॥

atha vā yoginām eva

kule bhavati dhīmatām

etad dhi durlabha-taraṁ

loke janma yad īdṛśam

Translation

Or [if unsuccessful after long practice of yoga] he takes his birth in a family of transcendentalists who are surely great in wisdom. Certainly, such a birth is rare in this world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

A Rare Spiritual Birth

  1. 1One unsuccessful after long yoga practice may be born into a family of wise spiritualists. Such a birth is rare.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that these families encourage spiritual life from childhood through learning and training in devotion.
  3. 3Value the chance to learn devotional service to the Lord from an early age.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 6, Dhyāna-yoga: spiritual effort is not lost.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The soul's true destination is eternal.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: mokṣa, dhāma.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 6.42 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to liberation & destiny?

Practice

Reflect on what you want to remember at life's end.

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 6.40Spiritual effort is not lostBG 6.41Spiritual effort is not lost

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.