In Bhagavad Gita 8.12, Krishna describes controlling all the gates of the body, confining the mind in the heart and fixing the life-breath in the head, established in yogic concentration.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य
मनो हृदि निरुध्य च
मूर्ध्न्याधायात्मनः प्राणम्
आस्थितो योगधारणाम् ॥ ८-१२ ॥
sarvadvārāṇi saṃyamya
mano hṛdi nirudhya ca
mūrdhnyādhāyātmanaḥ prāṇam
āsthito yogadhāraṇām
English transliteration sarvadvaaraani samyamya
mano hridi nirudhya cha
moordhnyaadhaayaatmanah praanam
aasthito yogadhaaranaam ॥ 8.12 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Controlling all the gates of the body, confining the mind in the heart, placing the life-breath in the head, established in yogic concentration,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सर्वद्वाराणि sarvadvārāṇi | all the gates sarva (all) + dvārāṇi (gates) |
| संयम्य saṃyamya | controlling |
| मनः manaḥ | the mind |
| हृदि hṛdi | in the heart |
| निरुध्य nirudhya | confining |
| च ca | and |
| मूर्ध्नि mūrdhni | in the head |
| आधाय ādhāya | placing |
| आत्मनः ātmanaḥ | one’s own |
| प्राणम् prāṇam | life-breath |
| आस्थितः āsthitaḥ | established |
| योगधारणाम् yogadhāraṇām | in yogic concentration yoga (yoga) + dhāraṇām (concentration) |
Word-wise Chanting
- sar–vad–vā–rā–ṇi saṃ–yam–ya 8 syllables sar-vad-vaa-raa-ni sam-yam-ya
- ma–no hṛ–di ni–rudh–ya ca | 8 syllables ma-no hri-di ni-rudh-ya cha
- mūr–dhnyā–dhā–yāt–ma–naḥ prā–ṇam– 8 syllables moor-dhnyaa-dhaa-yaat-ma-nah praa-nam-
- ās–thi–to yo–ga–dhā–ra–ṇām || 8-12 8 syllables aas-thi-to yo-ga-dhaa-ra-naam
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 8 Verse 12
Context
Krishna describes the yogic method of departure; the sentence continues into 8.13.
Meaning
The body has gates, the senses, through which the mind usually flows outward. The yogī closes them, draws the mind into the heart, and raises the prāṇa to the crown of the head. This is yoga-dhāraṇā, a state of complete inner concentration.
While this describes a practice at death, the same inward movement is the essence of meditation now: withdrawing from the senses, settling in the heart and gathering energy upward. Daily meditation prepares the way.
In Practice
In meditation today, close your eyes, let the senses quieten, and rest your attention in the heart for several minutes.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga (The Imperishable Absolute). 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.