In Bhagavad Gita 18.52, Krishna continues: living in solitude, eating lightly, controlling speech, body and mind, ever devoted to meditation and taking refuge in dispassion,
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी
यतवाक्कायमानसः
ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं
वैराग्यं समुपाश्रितः ॥ १८-५२ ॥
viviktasevī laghvāśī
yatavākkāyamānasaḥ
dhyānayogaparo nityaṃ
vairāgyaṃ samupāśritaḥ
English transliteration viviktasevee laghvaashee
yatavaakkaayamaanasah
dhyaanayogaparo nityam
vairaagyam samupaashritah ॥ 18.52 ॥
Translation / Meaning
dwelling in solitude, eating lightly, controlling speech, body and mind, ever devoted to the yoga of meditation, and taking refuge in dispassion,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| विविक्तसेवी viviktasevī | dwelling in solitude vivikta (solitude) + sevī (dwelling) |
| लघ्वाशी laghvāśī | eating lightly laghu (light) + āśī (eating) |
| यतवाक्कायमानसः yatavākkāyamānasaḥ | controlling speech, body and mind yata (controlled) + vāk (speech) + kāya (body) + mānasaḥ (mind) |
| ध्यानयोगपरः dhyānayogaparaḥ | devoted to the yoga of meditation dhyāna (meditation) + yoga (yoga) + paraḥ (devoted) |
| नित्यम् nityam | ever |
| वैराग्यम् vairāgyam | dispassion |
| समुपाश्रितः samupāśritaḥ | taking refuge in |
Word-wise Chanting
- vi–vik–ta–se–vī lagh–vā–śī 8 syllables vi-vik-ta-se-vee lagh-vaa-shee
- ya–ta–vāk–kā–ya–mā–na–saḥ | 8 syllables ya-ta-vaak-kaa-ya-maa-na-sah
- dhyā–na–yo–ga–pa–ro nit–yaṃ 8 syllables dhyaa-na-yo-ga-pa-ro nit-yam
- vai–rāg–yaṃ sa–mu–pāś–ri–taḥ || 18-52 8 syllables vai-raag-yam sa-mu-paash-ri-tah
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 52
Context
Krishna continues describing the path to Brahman (18.50–18.55).
Meaning
The seeker values vivikta, solitude; eats laghu, lightly; restrains speech, body and mind; is always devoted to dhyāna-yoga, meditation; and rests in vairāgya, dispassion.
Simplicity of life supports depth of meditation.
In Practice
Eat lightly and spend some time in silence and meditation today.
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.