In Bhagavad Gita 6.24, Krishna instructs the meditator to abandon completely all desires born of imagination and to restrain the senses on all sides with the mind.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्
त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः
मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं
विनियम्य समन्ततः ॥ ६-२४ ॥
saṅkalpaprabhavānkāmāṃs
tyaktvā sarvānaśeṣataḥ
manasaivendriyagrāmaṃ
viniyamya samantataḥ
English transliteration sankalpaprabhavaankaamaams
tyaktvaa sarvaanasheshatah
manasaivendriyagraamam
viniyamya samantatah ॥ 6.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Abandoning completely all desires born of mental imagination, and restraining the whole group of senses on all sides by the mind,
Verses 6.24–6.25 form one sentence.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सङ्कल्पप्रभवान् saṅkalpaprabhavān | born of imagination, intention saṅkalpa (imagination) + prabhavān (born) |
| कामान् kāmān | desires |
| त्यक्त्वा tyaktvā | abandoning |
| सर्वान् sarvān | all |
| अशेषतः aśeṣataḥ | completely |
| मनसा manasā | by the mind |
| एव eva | indeed |
| इन्द्रियग्रामम् indriyagrāmam | the group of senses indriya (senses) + grāmam (group) |
| विनियम्य viniyamya | restraining |
| समन्ततः samantataḥ | on all sides |
Word-wise Chanting
- saṅ–kal–pap–ra–bha–vān–kā–māṃs– 8 syllables san-kal-pap-ra-bha-vaan-kaa-maams-
- tyak–tvā sar–vā–na–śe–ṣa–taḥ | 8 syllables tyak-tvaa sar-vaa-na-she-sha-tah
- ma–na–sai–ven–dri–yag–rā–maṃ 8 syllables ma-na-sai-ven-dri-yag-raa-mam
- vi–ni–yam–ya sa–man–ta–taḥ || 6-24 8 syllables vi-ni-yam-ya sa-man-ta-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 6 Verse 24
Context
Krishna gives further detailed guidance for meditation (6.24–6.26).
Meaning
Desires are born from saṅkalpa, the mind’s habit of imagining and planning. In meditation one lets go of all such desires completely, aśeṣataḥ, without exception. The mind also gathers the senses from all directions, so that they do not run outward.
Imagination is powerful. It creates desires by picturing what we might have or become. In meditation we rest from this endless creation of wants. This rest is deeply refreshing and reveals the peace underneath.
In Practice
At the start of meditation, notice any mental pictures of what you want. Let them dissolve, one by one, like clouds.
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.