In Bhagavad Gita 18.33, Krishna says the unwavering steadiness by which one holds the activities of mind, breath and senses through yoga is sattvic.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
धृत्या यया धारयते
मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः
योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या
धृतिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥ १८-३३ ॥
dhṛtyā yayā dhārayate
manaḥprāṇendriyakriyāḥ
yogenāvyabhicāriṇyā
dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī
English transliteration dhrityaa yayaa dhaarayate
manahpraanendriyakriyaah
yogenaavyabhichaarinyaa
dhritih saa paartha saattvikee ॥ 18.33 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The unwavering steadiness by which, through yoga, one controls the activities of the mind, the life-breath and the senses, O Partha, is sattvic.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| धृत्या dhṛtyā | steadiness |
| यया yayā | by which |
| धारयते dhārayate | controls |
| मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः manaḥprāṇendriyakriyāḥ | activities of the mind, life-breath and senses manaḥ (mind) + prāṇa (life-breath) + indriya (senses) + kriyāḥ (activities) |
| योगेन yogena | through yoga |
| अव्यभिचारिण्या avyabhicāriṇyā | unwavering |
| धृतिः dhṛtiḥ | steadiness |
| सा sā | that |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| सात्त्विकी sāttvikī | sattvic |
Word-wise Chanting
- dhṛt–yā ya–yā dhā–ra–ya–te 8 syllables dhrit-yaa ya-yaa dhaa-ra-ya-te
- ma–naḥp–rā–ṇen–dri–yak–ri–yāḥ | 8 syllables ma-nahp-raa-nen-dri-yak-ri-yaah
- yo–ge–nāv–ya–bhi–cā–riṇ–yā 8 syllables yo-ge-naav-ya-bhi-chaa-rin-yaa
- dhṛ–tiḥ sā pār–tha sāt–tvi–kī || 18-33 8 syllables dhri-tih saa paar-tha saat-tvi-kee
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 18 Verse 33
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of steadiness (18.33–18.35).
Meaning
Sāttvikī dhṛti is avyabhicāriṇī, unwavering. Through yoga, it holds steady the functions of manas, mind; prāṇa, breath; and indriyas, senses. It is the stable foundation of spiritual life.
True steadiness is not rigidity but a calm, firm hold on body, breath and mind.
In Practice
Practise steadiness today by holding your attention on your breath for five minutes.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.