श्रीभगवानुवाच।
śrībhagavānuvāca|
Lord Krishna said:
Subject: The Renounced and A Yogi
अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः।
स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः॥६-१॥
anāśritaḥ karmaphalaṁ kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ|
sa saṁnyāsī ca yogī ca na niragnirna cākriyaḥ||6-1||
He who performs his abiding duty, without depending upon the fruits- of –action is a renounced (sanyasin) and a Yogi, not the one who is without fire and without action (who has renounced sacrificial fire and abandoned rituals).
Lesson: He is a yogi and a renounced (sanyasin) who performs desire less action; not the one who just meditates without fulfilling his obligations.
यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव।
न ह्यसंन्यस्तसङ्कल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन॥६-२॥
yaṁ saṁnyāsamiti prāhuryogaṁ taṁ viddhi pāṇḍava|
na hyasaṁnyastasaṅkalpo yogī bhavati kaścana||6-2||
What they call renunciation (sanyas or sankhya yoga) be deemed as karma Yoga.O Son of Pandu, for one can never become a yogi without renouncing (selfish) determinations.
Lesson: There is no difference between renunciation and karma yoga. He is a yogi and a renounced who has ceased desires or self interest /selfish determinations.
Subject: Means of Yoga
आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते।
योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते॥६-३॥
ārurukṣormuneryogaṁ karma kāraṇamucyate|
yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇamucyate||6-3||
For a sage, who wishes to ascend on Yoga, (desire less) action is said to be the means; once the same sage has ascended to Yoga, cessation of all desires is said to be the means.
Lesson: Desire less action and cessation of desires are the means of the Yoga of Meditation.
Subject: Ascended to Yoga
यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते।
सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते॥६-४॥
yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu na karmasvanuṣajjate|
sarvasaṅkalpasaṁnyāsī yogārūḍhastadocyate||6-4||
Ceasing all desires, a person is said to have ascended to Yoga when he is attached neither to sense-objects nor to (fruits of) actions.
Lesson: He is a sanyasin, having detached himself from sense-objects and (fruits of) actions, who has renounced selfish determination.
Subject: Self –Upliftment
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥६-५॥
uddharedātmanātmānaṁ nātmānamavasādayet|
ātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ||6-5||
One should uplift himself by his own Self (Be above his body, sense-organs, mind and intellect) and protect himself from degradation by his own Self (not to be misled by sensual pleasures). The Self alone is ones friend and a foe.
Lesson: The sanyasin ascending on Yoga should strive to move beyond his gross body while protecting his Self from all sort of sensual pleasures.
Subject: A Friend and A Foe
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः।
अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्॥६-६॥
bandhurātmātmanastasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ|
anātmanastu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatruvat||6-6||
For him the Self is a friend who has won over himself by the Self. His Self acts in enmity like an enemy who fails to win over himself by the Self.
Lesson: Self alone is your friend. Therefore, conquer your self by the Self. His self acts in enmity who fails to win it over by his Self.
Subject: State of Meditation
जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः।
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः॥६-७॥
jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ|
śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ||6-7||
He is steadfast in his meditation over the Supreme who has won over his own self; who is equipoise; and who is serene in cold and heat, pleasure and pain as also in honour and disgrace.
Lesson: His Self-indwelling is ever concentrated over the Self-Supreme who is self- controlled and remains equipoise in cold and heat, pleasure and pain ,honour and disgrace.
Subject: Characteristics of a Yogi
ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः।
युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः॥६-८॥
jñānavijñānatṛptātmā kūṭastho vijitendriyaḥ|
yukta ityucyate yogī samaloṣṭāśmakāṁcanaḥ||6-8||
He is said to have ascended to yoga (harmonized himself or attained Nirvikalap Samadhi) who has conquered the senses; who remains firm; who is ever contented with (acquired) knowledge and wisdom and to whom a lump of earth, a stone and gold are the same.
Lesson: He ascends to the highest stage of yoga (Nirvikalp Samadhi) who, having conquered the senses and acquired knowledge and wisdom gives equal value to a lump of earth, a stone and gold.
सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु।
साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते॥६-९॥
suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu|
sādhuṣvapi ca pāpeṣu samabuddhirviśiṣyate||6-9||
He alone excels who respects, with even- mind, the good-hearted, friends, enemies, the neutrals, relatives, the righteous and the unrighteous.
Lesson: That Yogi alone excels in Yoga who gives equal treatment and respect to all kinds of persons whether friends or enemies, righteous or unrighteous.
Subject: Prerequisites of Meditation
योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः।
एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः॥६-१०॥
yogī yuñjīta satatamātmānaṁ rahasi sthitaḥ|
ekākī yatacittātmā nirāśīraparigrahaḥ||6-10||
Secluded and (sitting) in solitude that yogi should concentrate in meditation who has conquered his body and mind, who is non-possessive and who is free from greed and worldly desires.
Lesson: That yogi needs to meditate sitting alone in a solitude who has conquered his body and the mind; who is devoid of greed, possessiveness and passions.
Subject: Suitable Place for the Yoga of Meditation
शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः।
नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्॥६-११॥
तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियाः।
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये॥६-१२॥
śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiramāsanamātmanaḥ|
nātyucchritaṁ nātinīcaṁ cailājinakuśottaram||6-11||
tatraikāgraṁ manaḥ kṛtvā yatacittendriyakriyāḥ|
upaviśyāsane yuñjyādyogamātmaviśuddhaye||6-12||
Let him practice yoga for inner purification, making his mind-one-pointed and controlling the affairs of the intellect and the sense-organs; Having set his firm seat on a clean spot, neither too high nor too low, covered with kussa-grass, a deer-skin and a cloth-multi-layered .
Lesson: The self –controlled yogi of steady mind and intellect, seated at a clean and even place well covered by grass or deer- skin, should perform yoga of meditation for inner purification.
Subject: Posture for Meditation
समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः।
संप्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्॥६-१३॥
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः।
मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः॥६-१४॥
samaṁ kāyaśirogrīvaṁ dhārayannacalaṁ sthiraḥ|
saṁprekṣya nāsikāgraṁ svaṁ diśaścānavalokayan||6-13||
praśāntātmā vigatabhīrbrahmacārivrate sthitaḥ|
manaḥ saṁyamya maccitto yukta āsīta matparaḥ||6-14||
Firmly holding his body, head and neck erect; gazing steadily and straight at the tip of his nose; without looking around he who is fearless, calm, strong in-the vow of Brahmacharya; who has controlled his mind should carefully be absorbed in Me, in his meditation, having Me as the Supreme goal.
Lesson: While meditating, have a steady posture with body and head erect; single pointed mind poised in peace fully absorbed in the Supreme; having Him as your Supreme goal.
Subject: Supreme Peace in Meditation
युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः।
शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति॥६-१५॥
yuñjannevaṁ sadātmānaṁ yogī niyatamānasaḥ|
śāntiṁ nirvāṇaparamāṁ matsaṁsthāmadhigacchati||6-15||
Thus, always establishing his Self in the Supreme, that yogi of independent mind, absorbed in Me attains the Supreme peace.
Lesson: The yogi of independent mind, absorbed in the Supreme, at the peak of meditation, attains peace that culminates in the highest liberation.
Subject: Rules Regarding the Mediators’ Life Style
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः।
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन॥६-१६॥
nātyaśnatastu yogo’sti na caikāntamanaśnataḥ|
na cātisvapnaśīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna||6-16||
Yoga, O Arjuna, is not for him who eats too much, or who does not eat at all; nor for him who sleeps too much or who awakes too much.
Lesson: For meditation, keep moderation in your living (food, sleep and recreation etc;).Your involvement in sensual activities should neither be too much, nor too little.
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा॥६-१७॥
yuktāhāravihārasya yuktaceṣṭasya karmasu|
yuktasvapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkhahā||6-17||
For him yoga becomes the destroyer of all sorrows who is moderate in his diet and recreation; who is moderate in his initiatives (while in action); who is moderate in his sleep and wakefulness.
Lesson: For mitigating your grief with the help of yoga, have moderation in your diet, initiatives, sleep as well as wakefulness.
Subject: The Mediator
यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते।
निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा॥६-१८॥
yadā viniyataṁ cittamātmanyevāvatiṣṭhate|
niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ityucyate tadā||6-18||
He is said to be united or harmonized (in yoga), when his fully restrained mind rests in the Self alone, free from longing for all desires.
Lesson: He is said to have united in yoga, while in meditation, who establishes his restrained mind in the Self, completely free from longing of all desires.
Subject: Example of a Steadfast Yogi (Mediator)
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता।
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः॥६-१९॥
yathā dīpo nivātastho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā|
yogino yatacittasya yuñjato yogamātmanaḥ||6-19||
The yogi, who practices yoga- of- the-Self, having controlled his mind, is given the simile of a lamp placed at a windless spot which does not flicker.(As a lamp placed in a protected place does not flicker, the mind of a mediator remains unaffected/unwavering from desires and longing for material gratifications)
Lesson: The self-controlled mind of a mediator (Dhyan Yogi) is like a lamp placed at a spot protected from the wind.
Subject: State of Meditation
यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया।
यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति॥६-२०॥
yatroparamate cittaṁ niruddhaṁ yogasevayā|
yatra caivātmanātmānaṁ paśyannātmani tuṣyati||6-20||
When the mind of a yogi, restrained by the practice of yoga, ceases (from his body / mind becomes steady), and on having seen the Self by the Self when he rejoices in the Self, he relishes the Absolute Bliss;
सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद् बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम्।
वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः॥६-२१॥
sukhamātyantikaṁ yattad buddhigrāhyamatīndriyam|
vetti yatra na caivāyaṁ sthitaścalati tattvataḥ||6-21||
This is beyond the experience of the senses, to be grasped by intellect alone, and having experienced that he never deviates from the Reality ;
यं लब्ध्वा चापरं लाभं मन्यते नाधिकं ततः।
यस्मिन्स्थितो न दुःखेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते॥६-२२॥
yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ|
yasminsthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate||6-22||
Having experienced that (Absolute Bliss) he thinks there is no gain superior to it. On reaching such a state, he is not shaken even by the heaviest sorrow. Let that be known as the yoga – Yoga of Disunion from the Union-with- pain
तं विद्याद् दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम्।
स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा॥६-२३॥
taṁ vidyād duḥkhasaṁyogaviyogaṁ yogasaṁjñitam|
sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo’nirviṇṇacetasā||6-23||
This (Dhyan) yoga should be practiced with determination and with steady and unwavering mind.
Lesson: Disunion from every union-with- pain is yoga of meditation.(While meditating a yogi should strive to attain that position where his mind, poised in tranquility, having gained Self-realization, experiences the Absolute Bliss which is: (1) beyond the experience of senses; (2)experienced by pure intellect alone; (3) endless; (4) incomparable (there is no greater bliss than this); (5) to make the yogi steadfast—no deviation towards any worldly pleasure; (6) a disunion from every union-with-pain.
Subject: The Art of Meditation
सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः।
मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं विनियम्य समन्ततः॥६-२४॥
saṅkalpaprabhavānkāmāṁstyaktvā sarvānaśeṣataḥ|
manasaivendriyagrāmaṁ viniyamya samantataḥ||6-24||
Abandoning, without exception, all desires born of determinations; restraining the entire cluster of senses by the mind from all sides.
शनैः शनैरुपरमेद् बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया।
आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किंचिदपि चिन्तयेत्॥६-२५॥
śanaiḥ śanairuparamed buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā|
ātmasaṁsthaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiṁcidapi cintayet||6-25||
Slowly, slowly gaining tranquility by his intellect, and also establishing the mind in the Self, he should not think any thing (else).
Lesson: While in meditation, abandon all desires, control the senses by the mind, and strive to establish the mind on the Self, with the help of intellect, slowly, slowly enjoy tranquility.
Subject: Art of Meditation
यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चंचलमस्थिरम्।
ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत्॥६-२६॥
yato yato niścarati manaścaṁcalamasthiram|
tatastato niyamyaitadātmanyeva vaśaṁ nayet||6-26||
For what so ever reason this unsteady and flickering mind wanders away, restraint it from that and bring it back to the control /supervision of the Self alone.
Lesson: For successful meditation stabilize your mind under the watchful eyes of the Self and do not allow it to wander away.
Subject: The Supreme Bliss
प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम्।
उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम्॥६-२७॥
praśāntamanasaṁ hyenaṁ yoginaṁ sukhamuttamam|
upaiti śāntarajasaṁ brahmabhūtamakalmaṣam||6-27||
He alone gets the supreme bliss whose mind is in perfect peace, whose passions are at rest, who is free from sin and who has become one with the Supreme.
Lesson: The sinless whose mind and passions are at rest, having united with the Supreme, attains the Supreme-Bliss.
Subject: The Supreme Touch
युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी विगतकल्मषः।
सुखेन ब्रह्मसंस्पर्शमत्यन्तं सुखमश्नुते॥६-२८॥
yuñjannevaṁ sadātmānaṁ yogī vigatakalmaṣaḥ|
sukhena brahmasaṁsparśamatyantaṁ sukhamaśnute||6-28||
Thus establishing the Self (becoming one with the Supreme), the sinless yogi comfortably enjoys the Infinite Bliss of the Supreme touch / contact.
Lesson: To enjoy Infinite Bliss, develop harmony with the Supreme, having liberated from sins.
Subject: A Mediator’s Experience
सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि।
ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः॥६-२९॥
sarvabhūtasthamātmānaṁ sarvabhūtāni cātmani|
īkṣate yogayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ||6-29||
The yogi, whose Self enjoys the Infinite Bliss of the Supreme touch, beholds (his own) Self abiding in all beings, and all beings in (his own) Self (beholds the Omnipresent Supreme in all beings and all beings in the Supreme).
Lesson: A mediator treats all beings like himself and his ego of finite- self is vanished.
यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति।
तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति॥६-३०॥
yo māṁ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṁ ca mayi paśyati|
tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati||6-30||
He who beholds Me every where and beholds every thing (creature) in Me; neither I am lost (invisible) to him, nor he is lost to Me.
Lesson: For him the entire stream of life becomes one who beholds the Omnipresent Supreme in all beings.
Subject: Characteristics of a Yogi
सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः।
सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स योगी मयि वर्तते॥६-३१॥
sarvabhūtasthitaṁ yo māṁ bhajatyekatvamāsthitaḥ|
sarvathā vartamāno’pi sa yogī mayi vartate||6-31||
That yogi lives in Me, whatever his way of living may be, who, having established in oneness (oneness of all beings), worships Me with the realization that all beings dwell in Me.
Lesson: He is ever harmonized with the Supreme, irrespective of his way of living (outward conduct), who worships the Supreme, ever established in the oneness of all beings, with a firm conviction that the Supreme Eternal abides in all beings. (The inner life of man is his real life).
आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन।
सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं स योगी परमो मतः॥६-३२॥
ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśyati yo’rjuna|
sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ sa yogī paramo mataḥ||6-32||
He is considered a perfect yogi, O Arjuna, who upholds equity and equanimity every where (in all beings) through the likeness of his own- self, whether in pleasure or in pain.
Lesson: For a perfect yogi, every one is like his own-self. He treats pleasure or pain of all beings like his own.
अर्जुन उवाच।
arjuna uvāca|
Arjuna said:
Subject: Apprehension about Meditation of Equanimity
योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन।
एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चंचलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थिराम्॥६-३३॥
yo’yaṁ yogastvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhusūdana|
etasyāhaṁ na paśyāmi caṁcalatvātsthitiṁ sthirām||6-33||
I do not see, O Madhusudana, that the yoga of equanimity, which you have told me, would be enduring, for the stability of mind.
चंचलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद् दृढम्।
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम्॥६-३४॥
caṁcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham|
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyoriva suduṣkaram||6-34||
Because the mind, O Krishna, is verily fickle, turbulent, obstinate and strong. Restraining it, I feel, is difficult, like controlling the wind.
Lesson: Mediators become apprehensive of the long endurance of the stability of mind (the yoga of equanimity), because of its flickering, restless, instable and obstinate nature.
श्रीभगवानुवाच।
śrībhagavānuvāca|
Lord Krishna said:
Subject: Method of Controlling the Restless Mind
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्।
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥६-३५॥
asaṁśayaṁ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṁ calam|
abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate||6-35||
The mind is undoubtedly restless and difficult to control, O Mighty-armed. But, by constant practice and non-attachment, O son of Kunti, it is restrained.
असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः।
वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः॥६-३६॥
asaṁyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ|
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo’vāptumupāyataḥ||6-36||
Practising Yoga, I think, is difficult for the one whose mind is unbridled (not subdued); but the Self-controlled can do Yoga by (constant) practice and proper means.
Lesson: With proper means, non-attachment and constant practice, the self-controlled can control the restless mind.
अर्जुन उवाच।
arjuna uvāca|
Arjuna said:
Subject: Fate of a Mediator Deviated from Yoga
अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः।
अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति॥६-३७॥
ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāccalitamānasaḥ|
aprāpya yogasaṁsiddhiṁ kāṁ gatiṁ kṛṣṇa gacchati||6-37||
Having failed in attaining perfection, towards which path, O Krishna, that yogi goes who has full faith (in meditation) but who is unable to exercise self- control and whose mind wanders away from yoga.
कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति।
अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि॥६-३८॥
kaccinnobhayavibhraṣṭaśchinnābhramiva naśyati|
apratiṣṭho mahābāho vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi||6-38||
Does not such a person who is deluded (deviated from yoga) and deprived of (worldly) support, perish from both the sides (from worldly pleasures and the Bliss-Eternal) like a shattering cloud.
एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः।
त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते॥६-३९॥
etanme saṁśayaṁ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ|
tvadanyaḥ saṁśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate||6-39||
You alone can completely remove my doubt, O Krishna. But for you, there is none who can dispel this doubt.
Lesson: The yogi who does not have self control due to restlessness of the mind remains concerned about his future—that he may lose the pleasure of this life and the Eternal one.
श्रीभगवानुवाच।
śrībhagavānuvāca|
Lord Krishna said:
Subject: Good Acts
पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते।
न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद् दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति॥६-४०॥
pārtha naiveha nāmutra vināśastasya vidyate|
na hi kalyāṇakṛtkaścid durgatiṁ tāta gacchati||6-40||
Neither in this world, nor in the other, O Partha, there is any loss for him. Because, O My Friend, none verily ever goes to degradation who performs good action.
Lesson: Never and no where, he treads the path of degradation who performs good action.
Subject: The Fallen (Unsuccessful) Yogi
प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः।
शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते॥६-४१॥
prāpya puṇyakṛtāṁ lokānuṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ|
śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yogabhraṣṭo’bhijāyate||6-41||
The fallen (unsuccessful) yogi is again born in this world, in the house of the pious and prosperous, having attained to the world of the righteous and staying there for many years.
अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम्।
एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम्॥६-४२॥
athavā yogināmeva kule bhavati dhīmatām|
etaddhi durlabhataraṁ loke janma yadīdṛśam||6-42||
Or he is even born in the family of yogins who are endowed with wisdom. Verily, such a birth is very rare in this world.
तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम्।
यतते च ततो भूयः संसिद्धौ कुरुनन्दन॥६-४३॥
tatra taṁ buddhisaṁyogaṁ labhate paurvadehikam|
yatate ca tato bhūyaḥ saṁsiddhau kurunandana||6-43||
There he regains knowledge (of union with the Supreme) acquired in his previous body (life), and with this, he strives again, more than before, for perfection, O Son of the Kurus!
पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः।
जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते॥६-४४॥
pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva hriyate hyavaśo’pi saḥ|
jijñāsurapi yogasya śabdabrahmātivartate||6-44||
By virtue of his previous practice (impressions of yogic practice done in the previous lives), verily he is attracted to yoga irresistibly. Even he who merely wishes to know about yoga transcends beyond the Sabada Brahma (words of Vedas or Vedic rituals).
Lesson: The journey to perfection (in yoga) is slow and long enough, taking many cycles of birth. The impression of the yogic practices done (knowledge gained) in previous lives, by an unsuccessful yogi, remain accumulated and even a slightest inclination (towards yoga) on his part, helps him to leave the followers of rituals /vedic practices, far behind.
Subject: Perfection in Meditation
प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः।
अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम्॥६-४५॥
prayatnādyatamānastu yogī saṁśuddhakilbiṣaḥ|
anekajanmasaṁsiddhastato yāti parāṁ gatim||6-45||
Having purified from all sins and perfected through many lives, that yogi when strives with assiduity, achieves the highest goal.
Lesson: With hard work, one can scale the highest goal in spite of his many disappointments and weaknesses.
Subject: The Yogi
तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः।
कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन॥६-४६॥
tapasvibhyo’dhiko yogī jñānibhyo’pi mato’dhikaḥ|
karmibhyaścādhiko yogī tasmādyogī bhavārjuna||6-46||
A yogi (mediator) is superior to ascetics and considered to be superior to the man of knowledge (knower of scriptures). He is superior to the man who performs action (the rites enjoined in the scriptures). You therefore, be a yogi, O Arjuna.
Lesson: Meditation is superior to austerity, knowledge of scriptures and rituals, as it integrates all the three.
Subject: The Best Mediator
योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना।
श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः॥६-४७॥
yogināmapi sarveṣāṁ madgatenāntarātmanā|
śraddhāvānbhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ||6-47||
I consider him the best among all the yogis who is engaged in Me with full reverence; who worships Me from his within.
Lesson: Yoga –the union with the Supreme, practiced with faith and devotion is the best course of life.
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता — Shrimad Bhagavad Gita 