The Yoga of Meditation

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

The Supreme Lord said: One who performs their duty without depending on the fruits of action is a true renunciate and yogi — not one who merely renounces fire rituals or action.

यं सन्न्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव। न ह्यसन्न्यस्तसङ्कल्पो योगी भवति कश्चन॥

O Arjuna, know that what is called renunciation is the same as yoga. No one can become a yogi without giving up selfish desires and intentions.

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते। योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते॥

For one who wishes to attain yoga, action is said to be the means. For one who has attained yoga, tranquility becomes the means.

यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते। सर्वसङ्कल्पसन्न्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते॥

When one is attached neither to sense objects nor to actions, and has renounced all personal desires, one is said to have attained yoga.

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्। आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥

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.

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः। अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्॥

For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends. But for one who has failed to do so, the mind remains the greatest enemy.

जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य परमात्मा समाहितः। शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु तथा मानापमानयोः॥

For one who has conquered the mind, the Supreme Self is already reached in peace. Such a person remains balanced in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor.

ज्ञानविज्ञानतृप्तात्मा कूटस्थो विजितेन्द्रियः। युक्त इत्युच्यते योगी समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः॥

One who is satisfied through knowledge and realization, who is unshaken, who has conquered the senses, and who sees a lump of earth, a stone, and gold as equal — such a person is called a yogi.

सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु। साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते॥

One who has equal regard for friends, companions, enemies, neutrals, mediators, the hateful, relatives, saints, and sinners — such a person excels.

योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः। एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः॥

A yogi should constantly engage the mind in meditation, staying in a secluded place, alone, with mind and body controlled, free from expectations and possessiveness.

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः। नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्॥

In a clean place, one should establish a firm seat for oneself — neither too high nor too low — with cloth, deerskin, and kusha grass arranged properly.

तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः। उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये॥

Seated there, making the mind one-pointed and controlling the activities of the mind and senses, one should practice yoga for self-purification.

समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः। सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्॥

Holding the body, head, and neck straight and still, gazing at the tip of one's nose without looking around.

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः। मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः॥

Serene, fearless, firm in the vow of celibacy, controlling the mind, with thoughts fixed on Me — the yogi should sit, having Me as the supreme goal.

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः। शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति॥

Thus, constantly disciplining the mind, the yogi of controlled mind attains the peace of nirvana, the supreme bliss that abides in Me.