Chapter Six: Dhyāna-yoga; Mastering the Mind for Peace

In our last chapter, Lord Krishna explained how to live actively in the world without getting caught in worries. Now, He's going to teach us about Dhyāna-yoga—a Sanskrit term meaning 'the yoga of meditation.' This is about how to focus your mind, connect with God within, and find incredible peace, no matter what's going on around you. It's like learning to calm a storm inside your own head!

Who Is a True Yogi? Action Without Desire¹

Śrī Bhagavān (Bhag-a-vahn), God Himself, began: "Anāśritaḥ karma-phalam kāryam karma karoti yaḥ saḥ sannyāsī ca yogī ca na niḥ-agniḥ na ca akriyaḥ."¹ "One who performs obligatory duties, kāryam karma karoti, without taking shelter of the results of work, anāśritaḥ karma-phalam—he is truly a renouncer, sannyāsī, and also a mystic, yogī! He is not just someone without fire rituals, na niḥ-agniḥ, nor simply one who avoids all actions, na ca akriyaḥ!"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: This is a crucial teaching, kids! Sannyāsī (san-nyaa-see) means 'renouncer,' and yogī (yo-gee) means 'mystic' or 'one connected to God.' Krishna is saying a true spiritual person isn't just someone who gives up physical things or stops doing rituals. It's someone who does their duty, but doesn't get attached to the results! Their mind is free, even if their hands are busy.

"Yam sannyāsam iti prāhuḥ yogam tam viddhi pāṇḍava na hi asannyasta-saṅkalpaḥ yogī bhavati kaścana."² "O son of Pritha, pāṇḍava! What they call renunciation, sannyāsam iti prāhuḥ, you must know is also yoga, yogam tam viddhi! Indeed, hi, no one, kaścana, can become a mystic, yogī, without giving up selfish desires, asannyasta-saṅkalpaḥ!" This means true renunciation is about letting go of selfish wishes, not just outwardly quitting things.

"Ārurukṣoḥ muneḥ yogam karma kāraṇam ucyate yoga-ārūḍhasya tasya eva śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate."³ "For a sage who has just begun yoga, ārurukṣoḥ muneḥ yogam, action, karma, is said to be the means, kāraṇam ucyate! But for one who has attained the higher stage of yoga, yoga-ārūḍhasya, peace, śamaḥ, is certainly the means, kāraṇam ucyate!"

"Yadā hi na indriya-artheṣu na karmasu anuṣajjate sarva-saṅkalpa-sannyāsī yoga-ārūḍhaḥ tadā ucyate."⁴ "When one certainly, hi, does not engage in sense gratification, na indriya-artheṣu anuṣajjate, nor in selfish actions, na karmasu, then he is said to be elevated in yoga, yoga-ārūḍhaḥ tadā ucyate, having given up all material desires, sarva-saṅkalpa-sannyāsī!"

Your Mind: Your Best Friend or Worst Enemy?⁵

Krishna now explains that our own mind can be our greatest ally or our biggest problem. It's up to us to control it.

"Uddharet ātmanā ātmānam na ātmānam avasādayet ātmā eva hi ātmanaḥ bandhuḥ ātmā eva ripuḥ ātmanaḥ."⁵ "One must deliver oneself, uddharet ātmanā ātmānam, by the mind! Never put oneself into degradation, na ātmānam avasādayet! Indeed, hi, the mind, ātmā, is certainly one's friend, ātmanaḥ bandhuḥ! And the mind, ātmā, is also certainly one's enemy, ātmanaḥ ripuḥ!"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: This is a famous and super powerful verse, kids! Ātmā (aat-maa) here means both 'mind' and 'conditioned soul.' So, Krishna is saying, your own mind can be your very best friend or your worst enemy. It all depends on whether you control it or let it control you!

"Bandhuḥ ātmā ātmanaḥ tasya yena ātmā eva ātmanā jitaḥ anātmanaḥ tu śatrutve varteta ātmā eva śatru-vat."⁶ "For one who has conquered their mind, yena ātmā eva ātmanā jitaḥ, that mind, ātmā, is his friend, bandhuḥ ātmanaḥ tasya! But for one who has failed to control the mind, anātmanaḥ tu, that very mind, ātmā eva, acts as an enemy, śatru-vat varteta, just like an enemy!"

"Jita-ātmanaḥ praśāntasya parama-ātmā samāhitaḥ śīta-uṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu tathā māna-apamānayoḥ."⁷ "For one who has conquered their mind, jita-ātmanaḥ, and who has achieved inner peace, praśāntasya, the Supersoul, parama-ātmā, is fully manifest! Such a person is balanced in cold and heat, śīta-uṣṇa, in happiness and distress, sukha-duḥkheṣu, and in honor and dishonor, māna-apamānayoḥ!"

"Jñāna-vijñāna-tṛpta-ātmā kūṭa-sthaḥ vijita-indriyaḥ yuktaḥ iti ucyate yogī sama-loṣṭra-aśma-kāñcanaḥ."⁸ "A living entity whose soul is satisfied by acquired knowledge and realized knowledge, jñāna-vijñāna-tṛpta-ātmā, is spiritually situated, kūṭa-sthaḥ, and has controlled senses, vijita-indriyaḥ! Such a mystic, yogī, is called competent for self-realization, yuktaḥ iti ucyate, and sees pebbles, stones, and gold equally, sama-loṣṭra-aśma-kāñcanaḥ!"

"Su-hṛt-mitra-ari-udāsīna-madhya-stha-dveṣya-bandhuṣu sādhuṣu api ca pāpeṣu sama-buddhiḥ viśiṣyate."⁹ "One who has equal intelligence, sama-buddhiḥ, towards well-wishers, su-hṛt, benefactors, mitra, enemies, ari, neutrals, udāsīna, mediators, madhya-stha, the envious, dveṣya, relatives, bandhuṣu, the pious, sādhuṣu, and even sinners, pāpeṣu—such a person is far advanced, viśiṣyate!" This is a very high level of spiritual equality!

The Steps to Meditate and Find Inner Peace¹⁰

Krishna now gives practical, step-by-step instructions on how to meditate properly to control the mind and achieve deep peace.

"Yogī yuñjīta satatam ātmānam rahasi sthitaḥ ekākī yata-citta-ātmā nirāśīḥ aparigrahaḥ."¹⁰ "A transcendentalist, yogī, must constantly, satatam, concentrate himself, yuñjīta ātmānam, in a secluded place, rahasi sthitaḥ, all alone, ekākī! He must be always careful in mind, yata-citta-ātmā, without being attracted by anything else, nirāśīḥ, and free from the feeling of possessiveness, aparigrahaḥ!"

"Śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ na ati-ucchritam na ati-nīcam caila-ajina-kuśa-uttaram."¹¹⁻¹² "In a sanctified place, śucau deśe, he should firmly, sthiram, place his own seat, āsanam ātmanaḥ. It should not be too high, na ati-ucchritam, nor too low, na ati-nīcam, and covered with soft cloth, deerskin, and kuśa grass, caila-ajina-kuśa-uttaram. Thereupon, tatra, sitting on that seat, upaviśya āsane, with one-pointed attention, eka-agram manaḥ kṛtvā, controlling mind and senses, yata-citta-indriya-kriyaḥ, he should practice yoga, yuñjyāt yogam, for clarifying his heart, ātma-viśuddhaye."

"Samam kāya-śiraḥ-grīvam dhārayan acalam sthiraḥ samprekṣya nāsikā-agram svam diśaḥ ca anavalokayan."¹³⁻¹⁴ "Holding his body, kāya, head, śiraḥ, and neck, grīvam, straight, samam, and unmoving, acalam, he should sit still, sthiraḥ. He should gaze steadily at the tip of his own nose, samprekṣya nāsikā-agram svam, and not look in any other direction, diśaḥ ca anavalokayan! His mind should be peaceful, praśānta-ātmā, free from fear, vigata-bhīḥ, and he should be situated in the vow of celibacy, brahmacāri-vrate sthitaḥ (brahm-ah-cha-ri-vrat-ay)—meaning controlling his desires. He should completely subdue his mind, manaḥ saṁyamya, concentrating it upon Me, mat-cittaḥ, and making Me his ultimate goal, mat-paraḥ!"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: Brahmacāri-vrate sthitaḥ is a key term, kids! It means 'situated in the vow of celibacy.' For a monk, this means no marriage. For others, it means being very disciplined with their desires, keeping their focus pure. Krishna is saying, controlling desires is vital for true meditation.

"Yuñjan evam sadā ātmānam yogī niyata-mānasaḥ śāntim nirvāṇa-paramām mat-saṁsthām adhigacchati."¹⁵ "A mystic, yogī, constantly, sadā, practicing in this way, yuñjan evam ātmānam, with a regulated mind, niyata-mānasaḥ, achieves peace, śāntim, which is the highest cessation of material existence, nirvāṇa-paramām, finding it in My spiritual kingdom, mat-saṁsthām adhigacchati!"

Finding Balance in Life for a Steady Mind¹⁶

Krishna now explains that proper meditation requires balance in all aspects of life—not too much, not too little.

"Na ati-aśnataḥ tu yogaḥ asti na ca ekāntam anaśnataḥ na ca ati-svapna-śīlasya jāgrataḥ na eva ca arjuna."¹⁶ "O Arjuna, arjuna! There is certainly no yoga, na asti yogaḥ, for one who eats too much, na ati-aśnataḥ, nor for one who eats too little, na ca ekāntam anaśnataḥ! Nor for one who sleeps too much, na ca ati-svapna-śīlasya, nor for one who stays awake too much, jāgrataḥ na eva ca!"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: This is about balance, kids! Krishna is saying that for spiritual progress, you can't be extreme. Not too much food, not too little. Not too much sleep, not too little. Everything in moderation.

"Yukta-āhāra-vihārasya yukta-ceṣṭasya karmasu yukta-svapna-avabodhasya yogaḥ bhavati duḥkha-hā."¹⁷ "For one whose eating, āhāra, and recreation, vihārasya, are regulated, yukta! Whose efforts in performing duties, ceṣṭasya karmasu, are regulated! Whose sleep and wakefulness, svapna-avabodhasya, are regulated! For such a person, the practice of yoga, yogaḥ, becomes a diminisher of pains, duḥkha-hā bhavati!"

"Yadā viniyatam cittam ātmani eva avatiṣṭhate nispṛhaḥ sarva-kāmebhyaḥ yuktaḥ iti ucyate tadā."¹⁸ "When the mind, cittam, becomes perfectly disciplined, viniyatam, and is situated in spiritual consciousness, ātmani eva avatiṣṭhate, being free from all material desires, nispṛhaḥ sarva-kāmebhyaḥ—at that time, tadā, one is said to be well situated in yoga, yuktaḥ iti ucyate!"

"Yathā dīpaḥ nivāta-sthaḥ na iṅgate sā upamā smṛtā yoginaḥ yata-cittasya yuñjataḥ yogam ātmanaḥ."¹⁹ "Just as a lamp, dīpaḥ, in a place without wind, nivāta-sthaḥ, does not waver, na iṅgate—that comparison, sā upamā, is given for a yogi, yoginaḥ, whose mind is controlled, yata-cittasya, as he constantly practices meditation on the Supreme, yuñjataḥ yogam ātmanaḥ!"

The Pure Joy of Seeing Your True Self²⁰

Krishna describes the blissful state of perfect meditation, where the mind is completely peaceful, and one can experience true happiness from within by seeing their own spiritual self.

"Yatra uparamate cittam niruddham yoga-sevayā yatra ca eva ātmanā ātmānam paśyan ātmani tuṣyati."²⁰⁻²³ "In that state, yatra, where mental activities, cittam, completely cease, uparamate, being controlled by the practice of yoga, niruddham yoga-sevayā! And where, yatra ca eva, by the pure mind, ātmanā, one sees the true Self, ātmānam paśyan, and becomes perfectly satisfied in the Self, ātmani tuṣyati! That supreme happiness, sukham ātyantikam, which is grasped by intelligence, buddhi-grāhyam, and is beyond the senses, atīndriyam—one knows that state, vetti yatra! Being situated in that state, sthitaḥ, one never moves from the truth, na calati tattvataḥ! By achieving that state, yam labdhvā, one considers no other gain to be greater, na anyam lābham manyate adhikam tataḥ! And being in that state, one is never shaken, na vicālyate, even by the greatest miseries, duḥkhena guruṇā api! You must know that state as the complete destruction of the miseries of material contact, duḥkha-saṁyoga-viyogam, called trance in yoga, yoga-saṁjñitam!"

Taming the Flickering Mind: Seeing God Everywhere²⁴

Krishna provides instructions on how to truly practice yoga with determination. He acknowledges the mind's restless nature but assures Arjuna that it can be controlled through constant practice and detachment. He then describes the amazing vision of one who sees God everywhere and sees everyone in God.

"Saḥ niścayena yoktavyaḥ yogaḥ anirviṇṇa-cetasā saṅkalpa-prabhavān kāmān tyaktvā sarvān aśeṣataḥ manasā eva indriya-grāmam viniyamya samantataḥ."²⁴⁻²⁶ "That yoga system, saḥ yogaḥ, must be practiced with firm determination, niścayena yoktavyaḥ, and without deviation, anirviṇṇa-cetasā! One must completely, aśeṣataḥ, give up all material desires, saṅkalpa-prabhavān kāmān tyaktvā sarvān, that arise from mental speculation! By the mind alone, manasā eva, one must completely control, viniyamya samantataḥ, all the senses, indriya-grāmam!"

"Śanaiḥ śanaiḥ uparamet buddhyā dhṛti-gṛhītayā ātma-saṁstham manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcit api cintayet."²⁵ "Gradually, śanaiḥ śanaiḥ, one should hold back the mind, uparamet manaḥ, by intelligence guided by conviction, buddhyā dhṛti-gṛhītayā! Making the mind fixed in transcendence, ātma-saṁstham manaḥ kṛtvā, one should not think of anything else, na kiñcit api cintayet!"

"Yataḥ yataḥ niścalati manaḥ cañcalam asthiram tataḥ tataḥ niyamya etat ātmani eva vaśam nayet."²⁶ "Wherever the flickering, cañcalam, and unsteady, asthiram, mind, manaḥ, goes astray, yataḥ yataḥ niścalati, from there, tataḥ tataḥ, one must bring it back under control, niyamya etat vaśam nayet, by fixing it in the Self, ātmani eva!"

The Yogi's Vision: Seeing God Everywhere and in All²⁷

Krishna continues to describe the blissful state of a controlled mind and then declares that the yogi (mystic) is greater than any other type of spiritual practitioner. He concludes by stating that the ultimate, greatest yogi is one who constantly thinks of Him (Krishna) with full faith and loving devotion.

"Praśānta-manasam hi enam yoginam sukham uttamam upaiti śānta-rajasam brahma-bhūtam akalmaṣam."²⁷ "For a yogi, yoginam, whose mind is peaceful, praśānta-manasam, he achieves the highest happiness, sukham uttamam! His passion is pacified, śānta-rajasam; he is liberated by understanding his spiritual identity, brahma-bhūtam; and he is freed from all sinful reactions, akalmaṣam!"

"Yuñjan evam sadā ātmānam yogī vigata-kalmaṣaḥ sukhena brahma-saṁsparśam atyantam sukham aśnute."²⁸ "Engaging in yoga practice constantly, yuñjan evam sadā ātmānam, a yogi, yogī, freed from all material contamination, vigata-kalmaṣaḥ, easily, sukhena, achieves the highest happiness, atyantam sukham, by being in constant touch with the Supreme, brahma-saṁsparśam!"

"Sarva-bhūta-stham ātmānam sarva bhūtāni ca ātmani īkṣate yoga-yukta-ātmā sarvatra sama-darśanaḥ."²⁹ "One who is fixed in God consciousness, yoga-yukta-ātmā, sees the Supersoul, ātmānam, situated in all beings, sarva-bhūta-stham! And he also sees all beings, sarva bhūtāni, in the Supersoul, ātmani! Such a person sees equally everywhere, sarvatra sama-darśanaḥ!"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: This is a truly profound vision, kids! Sama-darśanaḥ means 'seeing equally.' It's about seeing God (the Supersoul) in everyone and everything, and seeing everyone and everything connected to God. This is the ultimate spiritual vision!

"Yaḥ mām paśyati sarvatra sarvam ca mayi paśyati tasya aham na praṇaśyāmi saḥ ca me na praṇaśyati."³⁰ "Whoever sees Me, yaḥ mām paśyati, everywhere, sarvatra, and sees everything, sarvam ca, in Me, mayi paśyati—for him, tasya, I am never lost, aham na praṇaśyāmi! And he is never lost to Me, saḥ ca me na praṇaśyati!"

"Sarva-bhūta-sthitam yaḥ mām bhajati ekatvam āsthitaḥ sarvathā vartamānaḥ api saḥ yogī mayi vartate."³¹ "That transcendentalist, saḥ yogī, who serves Me in devotion, mām bhajati, situated in oneness (with the Supersoul), ekatvam āsthitaḥ, knowing Me to be in everyone's heart, sarva-bhūta-sthitam—he remains in Me, mayi vartate, in all respects, sarvathā vartamānaḥ api, no matter what his situation!"

"Ātma-aupamyena sarvatra samam paśyati yaḥ arjuna sukham vā yadi vā duḥkham saḥ yogī paramaḥ mataḥ."³² "O Arjuna, arjuna! One who sees equally, samam paśyati, everywhere, sarvatra, by comparing others to himself, ātma-aupamyena—whether it is happiness, sukham, or distress, duḥkham—that yogi is considered perfect, saḥ yogī paramaḥ mataḥ!"

Arjuna's Big Question: Can We Really Control the Mind?³³

Arjuna, listening to all these amazing descriptions of yoga, felt a moment of doubt about his own ability. The mind seemed too restless to control!

"Arjunaḥ uvāca: yaḥ ayam yogaḥ tvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhu-sūdana etasya aham na paśyāmi cañcalatvāt sthitim sthirām."³³ Arjuna said: "O killer of Madhu, Madhu-sūdana! This system of yoga, yaḥ ayam yogaḥ, You have described as a way to achieve equality, sāmyena—I do not see how it can be stable, etasya sthitim sthirām, because the mind is so restless, cañcalatvāt!"

"Cañcalam hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi bala-vat dṛḍham tasya aham nigraham manye vāyoḥ iva su-duṣkaram."³⁴ "The mind, manaḥ, is certainly flickering, cañcalam hi, O Krishna, kṛṣṇa! It is turbulent, pramāthi, strong, bala-vat, and obstinate, dṛḍham! I think it is as difficult to control, nigraham manye, as the wind, vāyoḥ iva su-duṣkaram!"

The Mind Can Be Conquered: Practice and Detachment³⁵

Krishna smiles at Arjuna's honest question and gives him the powerful secret to conquering the restless mind. It's not easy, but it's definitely possible!

"Śrī-bhagavān uvāca: asaṁśayam mahā-bāho manaḥ durnigraham calam abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate."³⁵ "Lord Krishna said: 'Undoubtedly, asaṁśayam, O mighty-armed one, mahā-bāho! The mind, manaḥ, is indeed difficult to curb, durnigraham, and it is flickering, calam! But, tu, O son of Kunti, kaunteya, it can be controlled, gṛhyate, by practice, abhyāsena, and by detachment, vairāgyeṇa!'"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: This is a super famous and encouraging verse, kids! Abhyāsena (ab-yaa-se-na) means 'by practice,' like practicing your favorite sport or instrument. And vairāgyeṇa (vai-raag-ye-na) means 'by detachment,' meaning letting go of desires for things that aren't truly important. Krishna is saying, with practice and by not clinging to things, you absolutely can tame your mind!

"Asaṁyata-ātmanā yogaḥ duṣprāpaḥ iti me matiḥ vaśya-ātmanā tu yatatā śakyaḥ avāptum upāyataḥ."³⁶ "My opinion, me matiḥ, is that yoga is difficult to obtain, duṣprāpaḥ, for one whose mind is uncontrolled, asaṁyata-ātmanā! But for one whose mind is controlled, vaśya-ātmanā, and who endeavors with proper means, yatatā upāyataḥ, it is practical to achieve, śakyaḥ avāptum!"

Arjuna's Big Question: What Happens If a Yogi Fails?³⁷

Arjuna then asks another very practical and important question. What about someone who tries to follow the spiritual path but doesn't quite make it?

"Arjunaḥ uvāca: ayatiḥ śraddhayā upetaḥ yogāt calita-mānasaḥ aprāpya yoga-saṁsiddhim kām gatim kṛṣṇa gacchati."³⁷ Arjuna said: "O Krishna, kṛṣṇa! If a person, ayatiḥ—an unsuccessful spiritual seeker—begins with faith, śraddhayā upetaḥ, but his mind deviates from the spiritual path, yogāt calita-mānasaḥ, and he fails to achieve the highest perfection in yoga, aprāpya yoga-saṁsiddhim—what destination, kām gatim, does he achieve?"

"Kaccit na ubhaya-vibhraṣṭaḥ chinna-abhram iva naśyati apratiṣṭhaḥ mahā-bāho vimūḍhaḥ brahmaṇaḥ pathi."³⁸ "O mighty-armed Krishna, mahā-bāho! Does he not perish, naśyati, like a torn cloud, chinna-abhram iva—lost from both spiritual and material paths, ubhaya-vibhraṣṭaḥ—without any stable position, apratiṣṭhaḥ, and bewildered on the path to God, vimūḍhaḥ brahmaṇaḥ pathi?"

"Etat me saṁśayam kṛṣṇa chettum arhasi aśeṣataḥ tvat anyaḥ saṁśayasya asya chettā na hi upapadyate."³⁹ "O Krishna, kṛṣṇa! You are requested to completely dispel, chettum arhasi aśeṣataḥ, this doubt of mine, etat me saṁśayam! For certainly, hi, no one else, tvat anyaḥ, can be found to remove this doubt, saṁśayasya asya chettā na upapadyate!"

A Yogi Never Falls: The Journey Continues⁴⁰

Krishna smiles and gives Arjuna a wonderful assurance: no sincere spiritual seeker ever truly falls. Their efforts are always counted, and they continue their journey over many lives until they reach the highest goal.

"Śrī-bhagavān uvāca: pārtha na eva iha na amutra vināśaḥ tasya vidyate na hi kalyāṇa-kṛt kaścit durgatim tāta gacchati."⁴⁰ "Lord Krishna said: 'O son of Pritha, pārtha! Never, na eva, is there destruction, vināśaḥ, for such a yogi, tasya vidyate, neither in this world, iha, nor in the next life, amutra! Indeed, hi, O My friend, tāta, no one who performs auspicious activities, kalyāṇa-kṛt kaścit, ever goes to degradation, durgatim gacchati!'"

"Prāpya puṇya-kṛtām lokān uṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ śucīnām śrī-matām gehe yoga-bhraṣṭaḥ abhijāyate."⁴¹ "Such a yogi, even if he fell from the path, yoga-bhraṣṭaḥ, takes birth, abhijāyate, in the house, gehe, of the pure, śucīnām, and prosperous, śrī-matām, after achieving planets of pious people, prāpya puṇya-kṛtām lokān, and dwelling there for many years, uṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ."

"Atha vā yoginām eva kule bhavati dhī-matām etat hi durlabha-taram loke janma yat īdṛśam."⁴² "Or, atha vā, he takes birth, bhavati janma, in a family of wise, dhī-matām, transcendentalists, yoginām, which is certainly very rare, hi durlabha-taram, in this world, loke!"

"Tatra tam buddhi-saṁyogam labhate paurva-dehikam yatate ca tataḥ bhūyaḥ saṁsiddhau kuru-nandana."⁴³ "Thereupon, tatra, O son of Kuru, kuru-nandana, he gains revival of his previous spiritual consciousness, tam buddhi-saṁyogam paurva-dehikam labhate! And from that point, tataḥ, he endeavors again, yatate ca bhūyaḥ, for perfection, saṁsiddhau!"

"Pūrva-abhyāsena tena eva hriyate hi avaśaḥ api saḥ jijñāsuḥ api yogasya śabda-brahma ativartate."⁴⁴ "By his previous practice, pūrva-abhyāsena, he is certainly, hi, automatically attracted, hriyate avaśaḥ api saḥ! Even being inquisitive about yoga, jijñāsuḥ api yogasya, he transcends the ritualistic principles of scriptures, śabda-brahma ativartate!"

"Prayatnāt yatamānaḥ tu yogī saṁśuddha-kilbiṣaḥ aneka-janma-saṁsiddhaḥ tataḥ yāti parām gatim."⁴⁵ "But a yogi, yogī, endeavoring with rigid practice, prayatnāt yatamānaḥ tu, whose sins are all washed away, saṁśuddha-kilbiṣaḥ, achieves perfection after many, many births, aneka-janma-saṁsiddhaḥ! Thereafter, tataḥ, he attains the highest destination, yāti parām gatim!"

The Greatest Yogi: Always Thinking of God⁴⁶

Krishna concludes this chapter by declaring who is the greatest kind of yogi, emphasizing the importance of constant devotion to Him.

"Tapasvibhyaḥ adhikaḥ yogī jñānibhyaḥ api mataḥ adhikaḥ karmibhyaḥ ca adhikaḥ yogī tasmāt yogī bhava arjuna."⁴⁶ "A yogi, yogī, is greater, adhikaḥ, than ascetics, tapasvibhyaḥ! He is also considered greater than philosophers, jñānibhyaḥ api! And he is greater than those who work for rewards, karmibhyaḥ ca! Therefore, tasmāt, O Arjuna, arjuna, just become a yogi, yogī bhava!"

"Yoginām api sarveṣām mat-gatena antaḥ-ātmanā śraddhā-vān bhajate yaḥ mām saḥ me yukta-tamaḥ mataḥ."⁴⁷ "And of all yogis, yoginām api sarveṣām, one who, yaḥ, with full faith, śraddhā-vān, serves Me, bhajate mām, always thinking of Me within himself, mat-gatena antaḥ-ātmanā—he is considered by Me, saḥ me mataḥ, to be the greatest yogi, yukta-tamaḥ!"

Wow, kids! What an incredibly deep and encouraging chapter! Krishna taught Arjuna how to truly control his mind and senses through yoga, finding real inner peace. He gave us practical steps for meditation and assured us that no sincere spiritual effort is ever wasted. And the greatest secret? The best yogi is one who always keeps God in their heart, with full faith and love!

Next time, we'll dive into Chapter Seven of the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna will explain more about how to know Him fully. Get ready for more amazing lessons!