In Bhagavad Gita 6.13, Krishna instructs the meditator to hold body, head and neck erect and still, gazing steadily at the tip of the nose without looking around.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
समं कायशिरोग्रीवं
धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः
सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं
दिशश्चानवलोकयन् ॥ ६-१३ ॥
samaṃ kāyaśirogrīvaṃ
dhārayannacalaṃ sthiraḥ
samprekṣya nāsikāgraṃ svaṃ
diśaścānavalokayan
English transliteration samam kaayashirogreevam
dhaarayannachalam sthirah
samprekshya naasikaagram svam
dishashchaanavalokayan ॥ 6.13 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Holding the body, head and neck erect, still and steady, gazing at the tip of his own nose, without looking in any direction,
Verses 6.13–6.14 form one sentence describing the posture and inner attitude of meditation.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| समम् samam | erect, in line |
| कायशिरोग्रीवम् kāyaśirogrīvam | body, head and neck kāya (body) + śiraḥ (head) + grīvam (neck) |
| धारयन् dhārayan | holding |
| अचलम् acalam | still |
| स्थिरः sthiraḥ | steady |
| सम्प्रेक्ष्य samprekṣya | gazing |
| नासिकाग्रम् nāsikāgram | the tip of the nose nāsikā (nose) + agram (tip) |
| स्वम् svam | own |
| दिशः diśaḥ | the directions |
| च ca | and |
| अनवलोकयन् anavalokayan | not looking around |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa–maṃ kā–ya–śi–rog–rī–vaṃ 8 syllables sa-mam kaa-ya-shi-rog-ree-vam
- dhā–ra–yan–na–ca–laṃ sthi–raḥ | 8 syllables dhaa-ra-yan-na-cha-lam sthi-rah
- sam–prekṣ–ya nā–si–kāg–raṃ svaṃ 8 syllables sam-preksh-ya naa-si-kaag-ram svam
- di–śaś–cā–na–va–lo–ka–yan || 6-13 8 syllables di-shash-chaa-na-va-lo-ka-yan
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 13
Context
Krishna gives instructions on posture (6.13–6.14).
Meaning
The body, head and neck are held in one straight line, still and stable. The gaze rests softly at the tip of the nose, or, as many commentators explain, the eyes are half-closed and directed downward, not literally staring at the nose. The eyes do not wander in different directions. This posture balances alertness and relaxation.
An upright, still posture supports an alert and steady mind. When the eyes stop roaming, the mind also stops roaming. Posture is the outer form of inner attention.
In Practice
Sit with your spine, neck and head in one line, eyes half-closed and resting downward. Hold this posture for ten minutes.
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.