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Chapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga · 47 verses

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Liberation & destinyChapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga
6.436.45

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.44

Spiritual effort is not lost

पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि स: ।

जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते ॥ ४४ ॥

pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva

hriyate hy avaśo ’pi saḥ

jijñāsur api yogasya

śabda-brahmātivartate

Translation

By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles – even without seeking them. Such an inquisitive transcendentalist stands always above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures.

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.

Naturally Drawn to Yoga

  1. 1Divine consciousness from a previous life naturally draws a person to yoga, even without seeking it, placing them above scriptural rituals.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that advanced yogīs are drawn to yoga rather than rituals. Yoga can lead them to full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the highest perfection.
  3. 3Value chanting the Lord’s holy names: the purport describes those who chant as far advanced in spiritual life, regardless of their birth.

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.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: mokṣa, dhāma.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 6.44 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.

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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.

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.