In Bhagavad Gita 6.45, Krishna says the yogi who strives diligently, purified of sins and perfected through many births, reaches the supreme goal.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु
योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः
अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्
ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥ ६-४५ ॥
prayatnādyatamānastu
yogī saṃśuddhakilbiṣaḥ
anekajanmasaṃsiddhas
tato yāti parāṃ gatim
English transliteration prayatnaadyatamaanastu
yogee samshuddhakilbishah
anekajanmasamsiddhas
tato yaati paraam gatim ॥ 6.45 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But the yogi who strives with diligence, purified of all sins, perfected through many births, then reaches the supreme goal.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रयत्नात् prayatnāt | with diligence |
| यतमानः yatamānaḥ | striving |
| तु tu | but |
| योगी yogī | the yogi |
| संशुद्धकिल्बिषः saṃśuddhakilbiṣaḥ | purified of sins saṃśuddha (purified) + kilbiṣaḥ (sins) |
| अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धः anekajanmasaṃsiddhaḥ | perfected through many births aneka (many) + janma (births) + saṃsiddhaḥ (perfected) |
| ततः tataḥ | then |
| याति yāti | reaches |
| पराम् parām | supreme |
| गतिम् gatim | goal |
Word-wise Chanting
- pra–yat–nād–ya–ta–mā–nas–tu 8 syllables pra-yat-naad-ya-ta-maa-nas-tu
- yo–gī saṃ–śud–dha–kil–bi–ṣaḥ | 8 syllables yo-gee sam-shud-dha-kil-bi-shah
- a–ne–ka–jan–ma–saṃ–sid–dhas– 8 syllables a-ne-ka-jan-ma-sam-sid-dhas-
- ta–to yā–ti pa–rāṃ ga–tim || 6-45 8 syllables ta-to yaa-ti pa-raam ga-tim
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 45
Context
Krishna completes his answer to Arjuna’s concern (6.40–6.45).
Meaning
The journey may take many lives, aneka-janma, but it ends in success. Through diligent striving, prayatna, the yogi is purified of all sins and finally reaches parā gati, the supreme goal. No sincere seeker is lost; each is on the way home.
This verse offers both patience and urgency. Patience, because the journey may be long; urgency, because diligent effort speeds it. We need not be anxious about perfection, but we should be earnest in our practice.
In Practice
Take a long view of your spiritual journey today. Do your practice with diligence, without anxiety about how long it will take.
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.