In Bhagavad Gita 12.9, Krishna says that if Arjuna cannot fix his mind steadily on him, he should seek to reach him through the yoga of regular practice.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अथ चित्तं समाधातुं
न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम्
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो
मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ॥ १२-९ ॥
atha cittaṃ samādhātuṃ
na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram
abhyāsayogena tato
māmicchāptuṃ dhanañjaya
English transliteration atha chittam samaadhaatum
na shaknoshi mayi sthiram
abhyaasayogena tato
maamichchhaaptum dhananjaya ॥ 12.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
If you are not able to fix your mind steadily on Me, then seek to reach Me by the yoga of practice, O Dhananjaya.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अथ atha | if |
| चित्तम् cittam | mind |
| समाधातुम् samādhātum | to fix |
| न na | not |
| शक्नोषि śaknoṣi | you are able |
| मयि mayi | on Me |
| स्थिरम् sthiram | steadily |
| अभ्यासयोगेन abhyāsayogena | by the yoga of practice abhyāsa (practice) + yogena (yoga) |
| ततः tataḥ | then |
| माम् mām | Me |
| इच्छ iccha | seek |
| आप्तुम् āptum | to reach |
| धनञ्जय dhanañjaya | O Dhanañjaya |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–tha cit–taṃ sa–mā–dhā–tuṃ 8 syllables a-tha chit-tam sa-maa-dhaa-tum
- na śak–no–ṣi ma–yi sthi–ram | 8 syllables na shak-no-shi ma-yi sthi-ram
- abh–yā–sa–yo–ge–na ta–to 8 syllables abh-yaa-sa-yo-ge-na ta-to
- mā–mic–chāp–tuṃ dha–nañ–ja–ya || 12-9 8 syllables maa-mich-chhaap-tum dha-nan-ja-ya
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 12 Verse 9
Context
Krishna’s graded practices continue (12.8–12.11).
Meaning
If the mind cannot stay fixed on the Divine, Krishna offers abhyāsa-yoga, the discipline of repeated practice. Each time the mind wanders, bring it back. Through repetition, steadiness grows.
Practice is the bridge between aspiration and achievement. Small, regular efforts gradually train the mind.
In Practice
Set a daily time for remembering the Divine, and keep it even when it feels difficult.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.