आत्मसंयमयोग

श्रीभगवानुवाच । अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः । स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः ॥

The Supreme Lord said: One who performs prescribed duty without depending on the fruit of action is a true renunciate and a true yogi, not one who merely abandons ritual fire and action.

यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव । न ह्यसंन्यस्तसङ्कल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन ॥

O Pandava, know that what is called renunciation is the same as yoga, for no one becomes a yogi without renouncing selfish intent.

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते । योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते ॥

For the sage who wishes to ascend to yoga, action is said to be the means; for one who has already ascended to yoga, tranquility is said to be the means.

यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते । सर्वसङ्कल्पसन्न्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते ॥

When a person is attached neither to sense objects nor to actions, having renounced all selfish intent, then that person is said to have ascended to yoga.

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् । आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥

One must uplift oneself by one's own effort and not degrade oneself, for the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः । अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥

For one who has conquered the self by the self, the self is a friend; but for one who has not, the self remains hostile, like an enemy.

जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः । शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः ॥

For one who has conquered the mind and is tranquil, the Supreme Self remains steadily present, whether in cold or heat, pleasure or pain, honor or dishonor.

ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः । युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ॥

One who is satisfied by knowledge and wisdom, unshaken, with the senses mastered, and who regards a lump of earth, a stone, and gold as equal, is called a true yogi.

सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु । साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥

One who maintains equal regard toward well-wishers, friends, enemies, the neutral, mediators, the hateful, relatives, the righteous, and even sinners, is considered even more distinguished.

योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः । एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः ॥

The yogi should constantly engage the self in meditation, remaining alone in a secluded place, with mind and body controlled, free from expectation and possessiveness.

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः । नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् ॥

Having established a steady seat for oneself in a clean place, neither too high nor too low, covered with cloth, a deerskin, and kusha grass,

तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः । उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये ॥

Sitting on that seat, focusing the mind, and controlling the activities of the mind and senses, one should practice yoga for the purification of the self.

समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः । सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् ॥

Holding the body, head, and neck erect and motionless, gazing steadily at the tip of the nose, without looking around in other directions,

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः । मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः ॥

With a peaceful mind, free from fear, established in the vow of celibacy, controlling the mind, thinking of Me, one should sit devoted to Me alone.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः । शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति ॥

Thus constantly engaging the self, the yogi with a controlled mind attains the supreme peace of liberation, which abides in Me.

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः । न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥

O Arjuna, yoga is not possible for one who eats too much, nor for one who eats too little, nor for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who stays awake too much.

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु । युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥

For one who is regulated in eating and recreation, balanced in effort in action, and regulated in sleep and waking, yoga becomes the destroyer of sorrow.

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते । निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥

When the fully controlled mind becomes established in the Self alone, and one becomes free from longing for all desires, then that person is said to be united in yoga.

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता । योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥

As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, this is the simile given for the yogi of controlled mind, practicing meditation on the Self.

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया । यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति ॥

That state in which the mind, restrained through the practice of yoga, becomes completely still, and in which, seeing the Self through the self, one finds contentment in the Self alone,

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् । वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः ॥

That state in which one experiences the infinite happiness perceivable only by the intellect, beyond the senses, and being established therein, never departs from the truth,

यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं ततः । यस्मिन्स्थितो न दुःखेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते ॥

Having gained which, one considers no other gain to be greater, and being established therein, is not shaken even by the heaviest sorrow,

तं विद्याद्दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् । स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा ॥

Know that state, the severance from union with sorrow, to be called yoga. This yoga should be practiced with firm determination and an undespairing mind.

सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः । मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं विनियम्य समन्ततः ॥

Abandoning without exception all desires born of selfish will, and completely restraining the whole group of senses by the mind from every side,

शनैः शनैरुपरमेद्बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया । आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥

One should gradually withdraw the mind through steady intellect held firm by patience. Fixing the mind on the Self, one should think of nothing else.

यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् । ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥

Wherever this restless and unsteady mind wanders, one should restrain it from there and bring it back under the control of the Self.

प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् । उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ॥

Supreme happiness comes to the yogi whose mind is fully at peace, whose passion has been stilled, who is free from sin, and who has become one with Brahman.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मषः । सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते ॥

Thus constantly engaging the self in yoga, the yogi, freed from all sin, easily experiences the boundless happiness of contact with Brahman.

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि । ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः ॥

One who is united in yoga and sees with equal vision everywhere beholds the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self.

यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति । तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति ॥

For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is that person ever lost to Me.

सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः । सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते ॥

The yogi who, established in oneness, worships Me as present in all beings, abides in Me, whatever the mode of life he may be leading.

आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन । सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं स योगी परमो मतः ॥

O Arjuna, one who, by comparison with the self, sees equality everywhere, in pleasure or in pain, is regarded as the highest yogi.

अर्जुन उवाच । योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन । एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चञ्चलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थिराम् ॥

Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, this yoga of equanimity which You have described, I do not see how it can remain steady, because of the restlessness of the mind.

चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् । तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥

The mind is indeed restless, turbulent, powerful, and obstinate, O Krishna; I consider it as difficult to control as the wind.

श्रीभगवानुवाच । असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् । अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥

The Supreme Lord said: Undoubtedly, O mighty-armed one, the mind is restless and difficult to restrain; but, O son of Kunti, it can be controlled through practice and detachment.

असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः । वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः ॥

For one whose mind is uncontrolled, yoga is difficult to attain, this is My view. But for one whose mind is controlled and who strives through the right means, it can be attained.

अर्जुन उवाच । अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः । अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥

Arjuna said: O Krishna, what happens to the one who has faith but lacks effort, whose mind wanders away from yoga, and who fails to attain perfection in yoga?

कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति । अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि ॥

O mighty-armed one, does he not perish like a dispersed cloud, having fallen from both paths, without any support, bewildered on the path to Brahman?

एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः । त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥

O Krishna, please dispel this doubt of mine completely, for there is no one other than You who can resolve this doubt.

श्रीभगवानुवाच । पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते । न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद्दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति ॥

The Supreme Lord said: O Partha, neither in this world nor in the next is there ruin for him, for no one who does good, My dear friend, ever meets a bad end.

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः । शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते ॥

One who has fallen from yoga attains the worlds of the righteous, dwells there for countless years, and then takes birth in the home of the pure and prosperous.

अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम् । एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम् ॥

Or he is born into a family of wise yogis; such a birth as this is indeed very rare to obtain in this world.

तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम् । यतते च ततो भूयः संसिद्धौ कुरुनन्दन ॥

There, O descendant of Kuru, he regains the understanding developed in his previous body and strives once again toward perfection.

पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः । जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते ॥

By that previous practice, he is drawn onward even without effort. Even one who merely seeks to know about yoga transcends the ritualistic teachings of the Vedas.

प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः । अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥

But the yogi who strives with full effort, purified of all sin, and perfected through many births, then attains the supreme goal.

तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः । कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन ॥

The yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater even than the person of knowledge, and greater than the performer of rituals. Therefore, O Arjuna, become a yogi.

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना । श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः ॥

Among all yogis, the one who, full of faith, worships Me with the inner self absorbed in Me, is considered by Me to be the most united in yoga.