In Bhagavad Gita 6.16, Krishna says yoga is not for one who eats too much or too little, nor for one who sleeps too much or stays awake too long.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति
न चैकान्तमनश्नतः
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य
जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥ ६-१६ ॥
nātyaśnatastu yogo’sti
na caikāntamanaśnataḥ
na cātisvapnaśīlasya
jāgrato naiva cārjuna
English transliteration naatyashnatastu yogo’sti
na chaikaantamanashnatah
na chaatisvapnasheelasya
jaagrato naiva chaarjuna ॥ 6.16 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who does not eat at all; nor for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who stays awake too long, O Arjuna.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| अत्यश्नतः atyaśnataḥ | of one who eats too much |
| तु tu | but |
| योगः yogaḥ | yoga |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| एकान्तम् ekāntam | at all |
| अनश्नतः anaśnataḥ | of one who does not eat |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| अतिस्वप्नशीलस्य atisvapnaśīlasya | of one who sleeps too much ati (too much) + svapna (sleep) + śīlasya (habit) |
| जाग्रतः jāgrataḥ | of one who stays awake |
| न na | not |
| एव eva | indeed |
| च ca | and |
| अर्जुन arjuna | O Arjuna |
Word-wise Chanting
- nāt–yaś–na–tas–tu yo–go–‘sti 8 syllables naat-yash-na-tas-tu yo-go-‘sti
- na cai–kān–ta–ma–naś–na–taḥ | 8 syllables na chai-kaan-ta-ma-nash-na-tah
- na cā–tis–vap–na–śī–las–ya 8 syllables na chaa-tis-vap-na-shee-las-ya
- jāg–ra–to nai–va cār–ju–na || 6-16 8 syllables jaag-ra-to nai-va chaar-ju-na
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 16
Context
Krishna gives the principle of moderation for successful meditation (6.16–6.17).
Meaning
Extremes block meditation. Overeating makes the body heavy and the mind dull; starving weakens the body and agitates the mind. Too much sleep brings lethargy; too little brings restlessness and fatigue. The Gita warns against both indulgence and harsh austerity.
This balanced approach is one of the Gita’s great strengths. Spirituality is not about torturing the body or indulging it, but about finding the middle way that keeps the body healthy and the mind clear. This middle way is itself a discipline.
In Practice
Review your eating and sleeping habits honestly. Make one small change toward moderation this week.
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.