Bhagavad Gita

Gita Verses on Meditation and How to Meditate (Dhyana)

ध्यान और साधना

How does the Bhagavad Gita teach meditation? In Chapter 6, Krishna gives a complete practical guide to dhyana — where to sit, how to hold the body, how to steady a restless mind, and how to bring it back gently again and again. Timeless instructions for a daily meditation practice.

  1. योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः।

    yogī yuñjīta satatam ātmānaṁ rahasi sthitaḥ ekākī yata-chittātmā nirāśhīr aparigrahaḥ

    Let the yogi constantly strive to keep the mind steady, remaining in solitude, alone, with the body and mind controlled, and free from hope and greed.

    भोगबुद्धिसे संग्रह न करनेवाला, इच्छारहित और अन्तःकरण तथा शरीरको वशमें रखनेवाला योगी अकेला एकान्तमें स्थित होकर मनको निरन्तर परमात्मामें लगाये।

  2. शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः।

    śhuchau deśhe pratiṣhṭhāpya sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ nātyuchchhritaṁ nāti-nīchaṁ chailājina-kuśhottaram

    In a clean spot, having established a firm seat of his own, neither too high nor too low, made of cloth, skin, and kusha grass layered one over the other.

    शुद्ध भूमिपर, जिसपर क्रमशः कुश, मृगछाला और वस्त्र बिछे हैं, जो न अत्यन्त ऊँचा है और न अत्यन्त नीचा, ऐसे अपने आसनको स्थिरस्थापन करके।

  3. तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः।

    tatraikāgraṁ manaḥ kṛitvā yata-chittendriya-kriyaḥ upaviśhyāsane yuñjyād yogam ātma-viśhuddhaye

    There, having made the mind one-pointed, with the actions of the mind and senses controlled, let him, seated on the seat, practice Yoga for the purification of the self.

    उस आसनपर बैठकर चित्त और इन्द्रियोंकी क्रियाओंको वशमें रखते हुए मनको एकाग्र करके अन्तःकरणकी शुद्धिके लिये योगका अभ्यास करे।

  4. समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः।

    samaṁ kāya-śhiro-grīvaṁ dhārayann achalaṁ sthiraḥ samprekṣhya nāsikāgraṁ svaṁ diśhaśh chānavalokayan

    Let him firmly hold his body, head, and neck erect and still, gazing at the tip of his nose without looking around.

    काया, शिर और ग्रीवाको सीधे अचल धारण करके तथा दिशाओंको न देखकर केवल अपनी नासिकाके अग्रभागको देखते हुए स्थिर होकर बैठे।

  5. प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः।

    praśhāntātmā vigata-bhīr brahmachāri-vrate sthitaḥ manaḥ sanyamya mach-chitto yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ

    Serene-minded, fearless, firm in the vow of a Brahmachari, having controlled their mind, thinking of Me and balanced in mind, let them sit, having Me as their supreme goal.

    जिसका अन्तःकरण शान्त है, जो भय-रहित है और जो ब्रह्मचारिव्रतमें स्थित है, ऐसा सावधान योगी मनका संयम करके मेरेमें चित्त लगाता हुआ मेरे परायण होकर बैठे।

  6. यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता।

    yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛitā yogino yata-chittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ

    As a lamp placed in a windless spot does not flicker, so is the Yogi of a controlled mind, who practices Yoga in the Self, compared.

    जैसे स्पन्दनरहित वायुके स्थानमें स्थित दीपककी लौ चेष्टारहित हो जाती है, योगका अभ्यास करते हुए वश में किए हुए चित्तवाले योगीके चित्तकी वैसी ही उपमा कही गयी है।

  7. शनैः शनैरुपरमेद् बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया।

    śhanaiḥ śhanair uparamed buddhyā dhṛiti-gṛihītayā ātma-sansthaṁ manaḥ kṛitvā na kiñchid api chintayet

    Little by little, let him attain steadiness of the intellect by holding it firmly; having made the mind establish itself in the Self, let him not think of anything else.

    धैर्ययुक्त बुद्धिके द्वारा संसारसे धीरे-धीरे उपराम हो जाय और परमात्मस्वरूपमें मन-(बुद्धि-) को सम्यक् प्रकारसे स्थापन करके फिर कुछ भी चिन्तन न करे।

  8. अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना।

    abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena chetasā nānya-gāminā paramaṁ puruṣhaṁ divyaṁ yāti pārthānuchintayan

    With the mind not moving towards any other thing, made steadfast through the practice of habitual meditation, and constantly meditating, one goes to the Supreme Person, the Resplendent, O Arjuna.

    हे पृथानन्दन ! अभ्यासयोगसे युक्त और अन्यका चिन्तन न करनेवाले चित्तसे परम दिव्य पुरुषका चिन्तन करता हुआ (शरीर छोड़नेवाला मनुष्य) उसीको प्राप्त हो जाता है।

✦ Frequently Asked Questions ✦

What does the Bhagavad Gita say about meditation and how to meditate (dhyana)?

How does the Bhagavad Gita teach meditation? In Chapter 6, Krishna gives a complete practical guide to dhyana — where to sit, how to hold the body, how to steady a restless mind, and how to bring it back gently again and again. Timeless instructions for a daily meditation practice. Key shlokas: 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.19, 6.25, 8.8.

Which Bhagavad Gita verses are about meditation and how to meditate (dhyana)?

The Bhagavad Gita addresses meditation and how to meditate (dhyana) in shlokas 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.19, 6.25, 8.8. Read each with Sanskrit, transliteration, word-by-word meaning and English & Hindi translation on AskGita.