Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 6
The Yoga of Meditation
Dhyāna Yoga
Practical instruction in seated practice, and the mind that resists it.
Bhagavad Gītā, Chapter 6 (traditional text)
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What happens
Here the Gītā becomes practical: a clean and steady seat, moderation in food, sleep and activity, attention gathered rather than scattered. Arjuna objects that the mind is as hard to hold as the wind. Krishna agrees — and answers with practice and persistence rather than force. He also reassures him that effort in this direction is never wasted.
Key ideas
What this chapter turns on
- Meditation
- Discipline
- Moderation
- The mind
- Equanimity
- Meditation
- Yoga
Explore the verses
Verses from this chapter
Verse 6.5
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्। आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥
“Let a person lift themselves by themselves; let them not degrade themselves. The self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone its enemy.”
Bhagavad Gītā 6.5 (traditional Sanskrit text). English rendering by Frenly Divine — a working translation, not an authoritative one.
Understand thisVerse 6.19
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता। योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः॥
“As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker — that is the image given for one of gathered mind, practising the yoga of the self.”
Bhagavad Gītā 6.19 (traditional Sanskrit text). English rendering by Frenly Divine — a working translation, not an authoritative one.
Understand thisVerse 6.35
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्। अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥
“Without doubt the mind is restless and hard to hold. But it is held, by practice and by non-attachment.”
Bhagavad Gītā 6.35 (traditional Sanskrit text). English rendering by Frenly Divine — a working translation, not an authoritative one.
Understand thisUnderstand
In plain language
Explanation — written by Frenly Divine, not scripture
Reflect
Something to sit with
- What is the smallest practice you could actually keep?