In Bhagavad Gita 6.18, Krishna says one is said to be established in yoga when the disciplined mind rests in the Self alone, free from longing for all desires.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यदा विनियतं चित्तम्
आत्मन्येवावतिष्ठते
निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो
युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥ ६-१८ ॥
yadā viniyataṃ cittam
ātmanyevāvatiṣṭhate
niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo
yukta ityucyate tadā
English transliteration yadaa viniyatam chittam
aatmanyevaavatishthate
nihsprihah sarvakaamebhyo
yukta ityuchyate tadaa ॥ 6.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When the disciplined mind rests in the Self alone, free from longing for all objects of desire, then one is said to be established in yoga.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यदा yadā | when |
| विनियतम् viniyatam | disciplined |
| चित्तम् cittam | the mind |
| आत्मनि ātmani | in the Self |
| एव eva | alone |
| अवतिष्ठते avatiṣṭhate | rests |
| निःस्पृहः niḥspṛhaḥ | free from longing |
| सर्वकामेभ्यः sarvakāmebhyaḥ | for all desires |
| युक्तः yuktaḥ | established in yoga |
| इति iti | thus |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
| तदा tadā | then |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–dā vi–ni–ya–taṃ cit–tam– 8 syllables ya-daa vi-ni-ya-tam chit-tam-
- āt–man–ye–vā–va–tiṣ–ṭha–te | 8 syllables aat-man-ye-vaa-va-tish-tha-te
- niḥs–pṛ–haḥ sar–va–kā–mebh–yo 8 syllables nihs-pri-hah sar-va-kaa-mebh-yo
- yuk–ta it–yuc–ya–te ta–dā || 6-18 8 syllables yuk-ta it-yuch-ya-te ta-daa
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 18
Context
Krishna describes the state attained through meditation (6.18–6.23).
Meaning
Meditation succeeds when the disciplined mind no longer wanders but rests naturally in the Self. At that point it is niḥspṛha, free from longing for any object of desire. Not because desires are suppressed, but because the mind has found what it was seeking.
This is a description of mature meditation. At first the mind must be disciplined; eventually it rests by itself. Like water settling when no longer stirred, the mind becomes clear and reflects the Self.
In Practice
In meditation today, notice moments when the mind rests without effort. Do not grasp at them; simply allow them to lengthen.
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.