In Bhagavad Gita 6.4, Krishna says that when one is no longer attached to sense objects or actions, and has renounced all selfish intentions, one is said to be established in yoga.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु
न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते
सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी
योगारूढस्तदोच्यते ॥ ६-४ ॥
yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu
na karmasvanuṣajjate
sarvasaṅkalpasaṃnyāsī
yogārūḍhastadocyate
English transliteration yadaa hi nendriyaartheshu
na karmasvanushajjate
sarvasankalpasamnyaasee
yogaaroodhastadochyate ॥ 6.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When one is not attached to sense objects or to actions, and has renounced all selfish intentions, then one is said to have ascended to yoga.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यदा yadā | when |
| हि hi | indeed |
| न na | not |
| इन्द्रियार्थेषु indriyārtheṣu | to sense objects |
| न na | not |
| कर्मसु karmasu | to actions |
| अनुषज्जते anuṣajjate | is attached |
| सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी sarvasaṅkalpasaṃnyāsī | one who has renounced all selfish intentions sarva (all) + saṅkalpa (intentions) + saṃnyāsī (renouncer) |
| योगारूढः yogārūḍhaḥ | ascended to yoga |
| तदा tadā | then |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–dā hi nen–dri–yār–the–ṣu 8 syllables ya-daa hi nen-dri-yaar-the-shu
- na kar–mas–va–nu–ṣaj–ja–te | 8 syllables na kar-mas-va-nu-shaj-ja-te
- sar–va–saṅ–kal–pa–saṃn–yā–sī 8 syllables sar-va-san-kal-pa-samn-yaa-see
- yo–gā–rū–ḍhas–ta–doc–ya–te || 6-4 8 syllables yo-gaa-roo-dhas-ta-doch-ya-te
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 4
Context
Krishna describes the yogārūḍha mentioned in 6.3.
Meaning
The one who has “ascended” to yoga has two marks: no attachment to sense objects or to actions, and complete renunciation of saṅkalpa, selfish intention. Such a person can act or rest without being pulled by desire. This is the summit of the climb.
This gives a clear measure of progress. Not how many hours we meditate, but how free we are from clinging to pleasures and to the results of our actions. As attachment and scheming decline, we rise toward the state of yoga.
In Practice
Notice one action you do mainly for a pleasurable result. Try doing it today with less attachment to that result.
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.