In Bhagavad Gita 6.12, Krishna says that sitting on that seat, making the mind one-pointed and controlling thought and senses, the yogi should practise yoga for self-purification.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा
यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्
योगमात्मविशुद्धये ॥ ६-१२ ॥
tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā
yatacittendriyakriyaḥ
upaviśyāsane yuñjyād
yogamātmaviśuddhaye
English transliteration tatraikaagram manah kritvaa
yatachittendriyakriyah
upavishyaasane yunjyaad
yogamaatmavishuddhaye ॥ 6.12 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sitting there on that seat, making the mind one-pointed and restraining the activities of the mind and senses, he should practise yoga for the purification of the self.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तत्र tatra | there |
| एकाग्रम् ekāgram | one-pointed eka (one) + agram (point) |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
| कृत्वा kṛtvā | making |
| यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः yatacittendriyakriyaḥ | with the activities of mind and senses restrained yata (restrained) + citta (mind) + indriya (senses) + kriyaḥ (activities) |
| उपविश्य upaviśya | sitting |
| आसने āsane | on the seat |
| युञ्ज्यात् yuñjyāt | should practise |
| योगम् yogam | yoga |
| आत्मविशुद्धये ātmaviśuddhaye | for self-purification |
Word-wise Chanting
- tat–rai–kāg–raṃ ma–naḥ kṛt–vā 8 syllables tat-rai-kaag-ram ma-nah krit-vaa
- ya–ta–cit–ten–dri–yak–ri–yaḥ | 8 syllables ya-ta-chit-ten-dri-yak-ri-yah
- u–pa–viś–yā–sa–ne yuñ–jyād– 8 syllables u-pa-vish-yaa-sa-ne yun-jyaad-
- yo–ga–māt–ma–vi–śud–dha–ye || 6-12 8 syllables yo-ga-maat-ma-vi-shud-dha-ye
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 6 Verse 12
Context
Krishna describes the practice itself (continuing 6.10–6.17).
Meaning
Seated firmly, the yogi gathers the mind into ekāgratā, one-pointedness, while restraining the restless activities of thought and senses. The purpose is ātma-viśuddhi, purification of the self: clearing the mind of the impressions and agitations that hide the Self.
Meditation here is not entertainment or mere relaxation; it is purification. As the mind repeatedly returns to one point, its scattered energies are gathered and refined. Over time, the inner mirror becomes clean enough to reflect the Self clearly.
In Practice
Choose a single point of focus, such as the breath, a mantra or a sacred image, and return to it gently every time your mind wanders.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). 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.