Chapter 6
Dhyana Yoga
Last updated: 14 June 2026
ध्यान योग
Total Shlokas: 47~11 min readSanskrit + Multi-language Meanings
Script:
Shloka 1
श्री भगवानुवाच। अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः। स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः।।6.1।।
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Krishna defines a true Sannyasi and Yogi: One who performs prescribed duty without depending on the fruits of action is the real renunciate and yogi — not the one who merely gives up rituals or activity.
Shloka 2
यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव। न ह्यसंन्यस्तसङ्कल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन।।6.2।।
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What is called renunciation is the same as Yoga, for no one can become a yogi without renouncing selfish motives. True yoga requires the abandonment of personal desires and calculations.
Shloka 3
आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते। योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते।।6.3।।
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For a sage who wishes to ascend to yoga, action is the means. For one who has already attained yoga, serenity and cessation of activity become the means. The path evolves as the seeker grows.
Shloka 4
यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते। सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते।।6.4।।
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When one has no attachment to sense objects or to actions, and has renounced all personal will, one is said to have ascended to the heights of yoga.
Shloka 5
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्। आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः।।6.5।।
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One must elevate oneself by one's own mind, not degrade oneself. The mind alone is the friend of the self, and the mind alone is the enemy of the self. We are each responsible for our own spiritual progress.
Shloka 6
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः। अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्।।6.6।।
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For one who has conquered the mind, it is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, the mind acts as the greatest enemy.
Shloka 7
जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः। शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः।।6.7।।
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For one who has conquered the mind and is peaceful, the Supreme Self is already reached. Such a person remains equipoised in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor.
Shloka 8
ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः। युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः।।6.8।।
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A yogi is said to be established in self-realization when content with knowledge and wisdom, undisturbed, with senses mastered, seeing a lump of earth, stone, and gold as equal.
Shloka 9
सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु। साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते।।6.9।।
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One who regards with equal mind well-wishers, friends, enemies, the indifferent, the neutral, the hateful, relatives, saints, and sinners — that person excels in spiritual life.
Shloka 10
योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः। एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः।।6.10।।
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A yogi should constantly engage the mind in meditation, dwelling in solitude, alone, with mind and body controlled, free from desires and possessiveness.
Shloka 11
शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः। नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्।।6.11।।
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In a clean spot, having established a firm seat for oneself — not too high nor too low, covered with cloth, deerskin, and kusha grass — one should prepare for meditation.
Shloka 12
तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः। उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये।।6.12।।
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There, seated on that seat, making the mind one-pointed with thoughts and activities of the senses under control, one should practice yoga for self-purification.
Shloka 13
समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः। सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्।।6.13।।
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Holding the body, head, and neck erect, still, and steady, gazing at the tip of one's own nose without looking in other directions — this describes the proper posture for meditation.
Shloka 14
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः। मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः।।6.14।।
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Serene, fearless, firm in the vow of celibacy, with the mind controlled and fixed on the Supreme — the meditator should sit, regarding the Lord as the supreme goal.
Shloka 15
युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः। शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति।।6.15।।
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Thus, constantly keeping the mind absorbed in the Supreme, the yogi of subdued mind attains supreme peace and liberation, which abide in the Lord.
Shloka 16
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः। न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन।।6.16।।
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However, yoga is not possible for one who eats too much or too little, sleeps too much or stays awake too long. Balance and moderation are essential prerequisites for meditation.
Shloka 17
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु। युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा।।6.17।।
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For one who is moderate in eating, recreation, work, sleep, and wakefulness, yoga becomes the destroyer of all suffering. The middle path eliminates the obstacles to meditation.
Shloka 18
यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते। निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा।।6.18।।
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When the disciplined mind rests in the Self alone, free from craving for all objects of desire, then one is said to be established in yoga.
Shloka 19
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता। योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः।।6.19।।
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As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker — this is the classic comparison for the disciplined mind of a yogi who is practicing meditation on the Self.
Shloka 20
यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया। यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति।।6.20।।
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When the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, becomes still, and when beholding the Self by the self, one is satisfied in the Self alone.
Page 1 of 3 · Shlokas 1–20 / 47
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 (Dhyana Yoga) about?
Chapter 6, Dhyana Yoga, deals with meditation and self-discipline (Dhyana Yoga) — steadying the restless mind. It contains 47 verses and is part of the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
How many verses are in Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 (Dhyana Yoga) has 47 shlokas (verses). On VedKosh each one is available with the original Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning in Hindi and English.
What is the key teaching of Chapter 6?
The central teaching of Dhyana Yoga is meditation and self-discipline (Dhyana Yoga) — steadying the restless mind. Read it as part of the unfolding wisdom Krishna gives Arjuna to resolve his moral crisis and act with clarity.