In Bhagavad Gita 6.25, Krishna advises that one should gradually become still through an intellect held firmly by patience, fix the mind in the Self and think of nothing else.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
शनैः शनैरुपरमेद्
बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया
आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा
न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥ ६-२५ ॥
śanaiḥ śanairuparamed
buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā
ātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā
na kiñcidapi cintayet
English transliteration shanaih shanairuparamed
buddhyaa dhritigriheetayaa
aatmasamstham manah kritvaa
na kinchidapi chintayet ॥ 6.25 ॥
Translation / Meaning
little by little one should attain stillness through an intellect held firm by patience; having fixed the mind in the Self, one should not think of anything else.
Verses 6.24–6.25 form one sentence.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| शनैः शनैः śanaiḥ śanaiḥ | little by little |
| उपरमेत् uparamet | should become still |
| बुद्ध्या buddhyā | by the intellect |
| धृतिगृहीतया dhṛtigṛhītayā | held by patience, steadfastness dhṛti (steadfastness) + gṛhītayā (held) |
| आत्मसंस्थम् ātmasaṃstham | established in the Self ātma (Self) + saṃstham (established) |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
| कृत्वा kṛtvā | making |
| न na | not |
| किञ्चित् kiñcit | anything |
| अपि api | even |
| चिन्तयेत् cintayet | should think |
Word-wise Chanting
- śa–naiḥ śa–nai–ru–pa–ra–med 8 syllables sha-naih sha-nai-ru-pa-ra-med
- bud–dhyā dhṛ–ti–gṛ–hī–ta–yā | 8 syllables bud-dhyaa dhri-ti-gri-hee-ta-yaa
- āt–ma–saṃs–thaṃ ma–naḥ kṛt–vā 8 syllables aat-ma-sams-tham ma-nah krit-vaa
- na kiñ–ci–da–pi cin–ta–yet || 6-25 8 syllables na kin-chi-da-pi chin-ta-yet
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 25
Context
This verse completes the sentence begun in 6.24.
Meaning
The key words are śanaiḥ śanaiḥ, little by little. Meditation is not forced but developed gradually. The intellect, held steady by dhṛti, patient steadfastness, gently brings the mind to rest in the Self. Then one stops thinking about anything else and simply rests.
Patience is essential. We cannot force the mind to be still any more than we can force a seed to grow. With gentle persistence, the mind learns to settle. “Think of nothing else” is the culmination, reached gradually, not on the first day.
In Practice
Meditate today without demanding results. Each time the mind wanders, return gently, trusting that stillness comes little by little.
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.