Bhagvad Gita - Chapter: 6 Dhyana Yogah

शनै: शनैरुपरमेद्बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया |
आत्मसंस्थं मन: कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् ||25||

Gradually, step by step, one should withdraw the mind, steadying it with the intellect, and focusing only on the self.

Śanaiḥ: Gradually or slowly.
Buddhyā: With intellect or wisdom.

Gradual progress is emphasized here, advocating for patience and persistence. This shloka highlights the importance of steady effort over quick results in spiritual growth.

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यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् |
ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ||26||

Wherever the restless mind wanders, restraining it, one should bring it back under control and focus it on the self.

Niścarati: Wanders or deviates.
Vaśam: Control or mastery.

Krishna acknowledges the wandering nature of the mind, offering reassurance that bringing it back to focus is part of the yogic journey. This verse normalizes struggle in meditation.

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प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् |
उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ||27||

The yogi, whose mind is peaceful, attains supreme bliss, with passions calmed, and becomes free from sin, united with the Brahman.

Śānta-rajasam: Calmed passions.
Akalmaṣam: Free from sin or impurities.

The rewards of a peaceful mind are elaborated here, linking serenity to the realization of the self. This verse presents peace as both the means and the result of yoga.

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Dhyana Yogah - Thus, always disciplining himself, the yogi, freed from all sins, attains supreme bliss through contact with the infinite consciousness.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मष: |
सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते ||28||

Thus, always disciplining himself, the yogi, freed from all sins, attains supreme bliss through contact with the infinite consciousness.

Brahma-saṁsparśam: Contact with the infinite consciousness.

Contact with the infinite consciousness is portrayed as the ultimate bliss. This shloka inspires practitioners to aspire for this transcendent experience through disciplined practice.

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सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि |
ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शन: ||29||

The yogi sees himself in all beings and all beings in himself. He sees the same everywhere, maintaining an equal vision.

Sama-darśanaḥ: Equal vision or equanimity.
Sarva-bhūtāni: All living beings.

Unity with all beings is described here, portraying the yogi’s expanded awareness. This verse aligns spiritual realization with universal compassion and connectedness.

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यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति |
तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति ||30||

One who sees Me in everything and everything in Me, I am never lost to him, nor is he ever lost to Me.

Praṇaśyāmi: Perish or lost.
Sarvatra: Everywhere or in all.

The idea of seeing God in everything introduces the theme of divine immanence. Krishna emphasizes that such vision leads to an unbreakable bond with the divine.

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सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थित: |
सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते ||31||

The one who worships Me as residing in all beings, established in unity, that yogi remains in Me, whatever the condition may be.

Ekatvam: Oneness or unity.
Bhajati: Worships or adores.

Worshiping the divine in all beings is presented as the highest form of yoga. This verse links personal devotion to universal love, broadening the scope of spiritual practice.

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