ṣṛībhagavān uvāca
1. anāśritaḥ karmaphalaṁ kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ |
sa saṁnyāsī ca yogī ca na niragnir na cākriyaḥ ||
The Beautiful Lord said:
One who does the work that needs to be done, not needing the fruit of those actions, is a saṁnyāsī and a yogī. Not one who lights no (sacred) fire and does no (ritual) works.
2. yaṁ saṁnyasamiti prāhur yogaṁ taṁ viddhi pāṇḍava |
na hy asaṁnyastasaṁkalpo yogī bhavati kaścana ||
What they call saṁnyāsa, know that to be yoga, Son of Pāṇḍu. Certainly without the saṁnyāsa (placing down) of the imagined intention no one at all becomes a yogī.
3. ārurukṣor muner yogaṁ karma kāraṇam ucyate |
yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate ||
Work is said to be the method for the sage who wants to ascend to yoga. For one having ascended to yoga, calm clarity (śamah) is said to be the means.
4. yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu na karmasvanuṣajjate |
sarvasaṁkalpasaṁnyāsī yogārūḍhas tadocyate ||
When one is not clinging to the objects of the senses nor to actions and is renouncing (placing down) all purpose, then one is said to have ascended to yoga.
5. uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet |
ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ ||
One should lift up the self by the self, not push down the self. Indeed the self alone is the friend of the self, and only the self is the enemy of the self.
6. bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ |
anātmanas tu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatruvat ||
By one who has mastered the self by the self, the self is a friend of the self. For one whose self is not mastered, the self stays hostile like an enemy.
7. jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ |
śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ ||
For the peaceful one whose self is subdued, the higher self is integrated (steadfast) and composed in cold and heat, in happiness and suffering, and in honor and dishonor.
8. jñānavijñānatṛptātmā kūṭastho vijitendriyaḥ |
yukta ityucyate yogī samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ ||
The yogī whose self is satisfied by both knowledge as wisdom and contextual specific knowledge, who is unchanging with the senses tamed, for whom a clod of earth, a stone, and gold are the same is said to be integrated in yoga.
9. suhṛnmitrāyudāsīna madhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu |
sādhuṣvapi ca pāpeṣu samabuddhir viśiṣyate ||
One not biased toward companion, friend, or enemy, standing in the middle between haters and supporters, equally mindful among the good and even the evil is preeminent among humans.
10. yogī yuñjīta satatam ātmānaṁ rahasi sthitaḥ |
ekākī yatacittātmā nirāśīr aparigrahaḥ ||
The yogī should continuously focus on the true ātman established privately and alone, with the mind and body concentrated, free of aspiration and without grasping anything in any direction.
11. śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ |
nātyucchritaṁ na ‘tinīcaṁ cailājinakuśottaram ||
The yogī should place in a clean area a stable seat for themselves, neither too high nor too low, covered with kuśa grass, a deerskin, and a cloth.
12. tatratikāgraṁ manaḥ kṛtvā yatacittendriyakriyaḥ |
upaviśyāsane yuñjyād yogamātmaviśuddhaye ||
There, having sat on the āsana and having turned the mind toward a single object, minding thoughts and the activity of the senses, one should link to yoga for the purification of self.
13. samaṁ kāyaśirogrīvaṁ dhārayann acalaṁ sthiraḥ |
saṁprekṣya nāsikāgraṁ svaṁ diśaścānavalokayan ||
Holding erect the body, the head, and the neck, unmoving and steady, gazing at the end of one’s own nose, and not looking all around in different directions.
14. praśāntātmā vigatabhīr brahmacārivrate sthitaḥ |
manaḥ saṁyamya maccitto yukta āsīta matparaḥ ||
With self made peaceful, with fear gone, observing a vow of celibacy, with the mind collected and thinking of Me, one should sit focused and devoted to Me.
15. yuñjann evaṁ sadātmanaṁ yogī niyatamānasaḥ |
śāntiṁ nirvāṇaparamāṁ matsaṁsthām adhigacchati ||
In this way the yogī, whose mind is integrated and always connecting with the true ātman, goes to clarity, the highest nirvāṇa, abiding with Me.
16. nātyaśnatas tu yogo ‘sti na caikāntam anaśnataḥ |
na cātisvapnaśīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna ||
Yoga is not eating too much and it is certainly not fasting too much; not the practice of oversleeping and not staying awake too much, Arjuna.
17. yuktāhāravihārasya yuktaceṣṭaysa karmasu |
yuktasvapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkhahā ||
For one who is moderate in food and play, mindfully linked to the performance of actions, balanced in sleeping and waking, yoga is the cessation of suffering.
18. yadā viniyataṁ cittam ātmany evāvatiṣṭhate |
niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ityucyate tadā ||
When the intelligence is precisely applied and one is abiding in the true ātman, free from all craving arising from desire, then one is said to be linked up (in yoga).
19. yathā dīpo nivātastho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā |
yogino yatacittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ ||
The comparison is remembered that as the flame of the lamp in a windless place does not flicker, such is the integrated mind of the yogī practicing the yoga of the ātman.
20. yatroparamate cittaṁ niruddhaṁ yogasevaya |
yatra caivātmanātmānaṁ paśyann ātmani tuṣyati ||
When the mind pauses, suspended by the attentive practice (service or seva) of yoga; when indeed the ātman is beheld by the ātman, one is completely satisfied by the ātman.
21. sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad buddhigrāhyam atīndriyam |
vetti yatra na caivāyaṁ sthitaścalati tattvataḥ ||
Knowing this endless delight held by the intelligence (buddhi) and beyond the senses, this one knows and, so grounded, does not waiver from the truth.
22. yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ |
yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate ||
Gaining that, one thinks there is no greater gain. Established in this, one is not shaken even by heavy sorrow.
23. taṁ vidyād duḥkhasaṁyoga viyogaṁ yogasaṁjñitam |
sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo ‘nirviṇṇacetasā ||
Let it be known that the unlinking of the union with suffering is known as yoga. This yoga is to be practiced with confident determination and an enthusiastic heart.
24. saṅkalpaprabhavān kāmāṁs tyaktvā sarvān aśeṣataḥ |
manasaivendriyagrāmaṁ viniyamya samantataḥ ||
Letting go, without any exceptions, of all desires born of selfish intention (saṅkalpa), and with the mind precisely monitoring the aggregate of all the senses on all sides.
25. śanaiḥśanairuparamed buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītaya |
ātmasaṁsthaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcid api cintayet ||
Slowly, slowly, step-by-step one should become quiet by means of the intelligence being firmly grounded. Having established the mind in the ātman, one should not think of anything.
26. yato yato niścarati manaś cañcalam asthiram |
tatastato niyamyaitad ātmany eva vaśaṁ nayet ||
When and wherever the ungrounded wavering mind wanders, from there one should lead it back to the domain of the ātman.
27. praśāntamanasaṁ hyenaṁ yoginaṁ sukham uttamam |
upaiti śāntarajasaṁ brahmabhūtam akalmaṣam ||
Indeed, such a one, the yogī, with the mind at peace, goes to the highest happiness, with passions pacified, without any ill intent, united with Brahman.
28. yuñjann evaṁ sadātmānaṁ yogī vigatakalmaṣaḥ |
sukhena brahmasaṁsparśam atyantaṁ sukham aśnute ||
Always linking into the self, freed from evil, the yogī reaches boundless happiness, easily touching Brahman.
29. sarvabhūtastham ātmānaṁ sarvabhūtāni cātmani |
īkṣate yogayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ ||
Seeing the ātman abiding in all beings and all beings in the ātman, the self linked in yoga sees the same everywhere.
30. yo māṁ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṁ ca mayi paśyati |
tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati ||
One who sees Me everywhere, who sees all in Me; I am not lost to that one and that one is not lost to Me.
31. sarvabhūtasthitaṁ yo māṁ bhajat yekatvam āsthitaḥ |
sarvathā vartamāno ‘pi sa yogī mayi vartate ||
Established in oneness adoring Me abiding in all beings, in whatever way turning or acting, the yogī dwells in Me.
32. ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśyati yo ‘rjuna |
sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ sa yogī paramo mataḥ ||
One who, with empathy and compassion within themselves, sees all things equally, whether it is happiness or suffering, is considered to be the highest yogī.
arjuna uvāca
33. yo ‘yaṁ yogas tvayā proktaḥ sāmyena madhusūdana |
etasyāhaṁ na paśyāmi cañcalatvāt sthitiṁ sthirām ||
Arjuna said:
This yoga of equal mind taught by you, O Slayer of Madhu, I see no lasting foundation for it because the mind is so unstable.
34. cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham |
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva suduṣkaram ||
The mind is certainly always wavering, O Kṛṣṇa, troubling, strong, and stubborn. I think it is as difficult to control as the wind (vāyu).
śrībhagavān uvāca
35. asaṁśayaṁ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṁ calam |
abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate ||
The Beautiful Lord said:
There is no doubt, O Mighty Armed, the mind is hard to contain and is always wavering—but, O Son of Kuntī, by continuous practice (abhyāsa) and releasing (vairāgyam) it can be held.
36. asaṁyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ |
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo ‘vāptum upāyataḥ ||
I think yoga is difficult to grasp when there is no continued focus on the ātman, but by resolute attention to the ātman, yoga is attainable by skillful means.
arjuna uvāca
37. ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāc calitamānasaḥ |
aprāpya yogasaṁsiddhiṁ kāṁ gatiṁ kṛṣṇa gacchati ||
Arjuna said:
One who is uncontrolled, but who has faith (śraddhā), whose mind has wandered away from yoga, who does not attain perfection in yoga, which path do they take, O Kṛṣṇa?
38. kaccin nobhayavibhraṣṭaś chinnābhram iva naśyati |
apratiṣṭho mahābāho vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi ||
Is it not true that they have fallen from both paths, lost like a disintegrating cloud, without any ground and bewildered in the path of Brahman?
39. etan me saṁśayaṁ kṛṣṇa chettum arhasy aśeṣataḥ |
tvadanyaḥ saṁśayasyāsya chettā na hy upapadyate ||
This is my doubt, O Kṛṣṇa. You are able to dispel it without any remainder. Besides you, no other dispeller of doubt exists.
śrībhagavān uvāca
40. pārtha naiveha nāmutra vināśastasya vidyate |
na hi kalyāṇakṛt kaścid durgatiṁ tāta gacchati ||
The Beautiful Lord said:
O Pārtha neither here on earth nor in heaven above is there destruction for them. No one who does virtuous good, my friend, is on the path of grief.
41. prāpya puṇyakṛtāṁ lokān uṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ |
śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yogabhraṣṭo ‘bhijāyate ||
Having reached the worlds of the virtuous and dwelling there for endless years, the one who fell from yoga is born in the house of the joyous and the illustrious.
42. athavā yoginām eva kule bhavati dhīmatām |
etad dhi durlabhataraṁ loke janma yad īdṛśam ||
Or one appears in the family of wise yogīs. Such a birth in the world is more difficult to obtain.
43. tatra taṁ buddhisaṁyogaṁ labhate paurvadehikam |
yatate ca tato bhūyaḥ saṁsiddhau kurunandana ||
There the interlinking of the yoga of intelligence derived from the former incarnation awakens and one strives on once again toward perfection, O Joy of the Kurus.
44. pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva hriyate hy avaśo ‘pi saḥ |
jijñāsur api yogasya śabdabrahmātivartate ||
Through previous practice, pulled irresistibly on through the heart, even against intentions (the will). Even the mere inquirer into yoga goes beyond Vedic ritual.
45. prayatnād yatamānas tu yogī saṁśuddhakilbiṣaḥ |
anekajanmasaṁsiddhas tato yāti parāṁ gatim ||
From continuous exertion and guiding the mind, the yogī is totally cleansed of impurities and through many lifetimes is successful, and then attains the highest goal.
46. tapasvibhyo ‘dhiko yogī jñānibhyo ‘pi mato ‘dhikaḥ |
karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī tasmād yogī bhavārjuna ||
The yogī goes beyond the ascetics, is thought to be beyond the learned, the wise, and is beyond the doer of sacrificial ritual. Therefore be a yogī, Arjuna!
47. yoginām api sarveṣāṁ madgatenāntarātmanā |
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ ||
Of all these yogīs, one who has gone to Me with their innermost self, who adores Me with complete trust, is considered by Me to be the most linked to Me.