Srimad Bhagawad Gita Chapter 6 - English

Meaning
śrī-bhagavān uvācha — the Lord said; anāśritaḥ — without taking shelter; karma-phalam — of the result of work; kāryam — obligatory; karma — work; karōti — performs; yaḥ — one who; saḥ — he; sannyāsī — in the renounced order; cha — also; yōgī — mystic; cha — also; na — not; niḥ — without; agniḥ — fire; na — nor; cha — also; akriyaḥ — without duty.

Translation
The bhagavān said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no duty, i.e., who still lives in the material world, but behaves like a sannyāsī, who gives up all actions.

ślōkaḥ
yaṃ sannyāsamiti prāhuryōgaṃ taṃ viddhi pāṇḍava ।
na hyasannyastasaṅkalpō yōgī bhavati kaśchana ॥ 2 ॥

Meaning
yam — what; sannyāsam — renunciation; iti — thus; prāhuḥ — they say; yōgam — linking with the Supreme; tam — that; viddhi — you must know; pāṇḍava — O son of Pāṇḍu; na — never; hi — certainly; asannyasta — without giving up; saṅkalpaḥ — desire for self-satisfaction; yōgī — a mystic transcendentalist; bhavati — becomes; kaśchana — anyone.

Translation
What is called sannyāsam or renunciation you should know to be the same as yōga or karmayōga (doing action without attached to results). O son of Pāṇḍu, for one can never become a yogī unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification.

ślōkaḥ
ārurukṣōrmunēryōgaṃ karma kāraṇamuchyatē ।
yōgārūḍhasyatasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇamuchyatē ॥ 3 ॥

Meaning
ārurukṣōḥ — who has just begun; munēḥ — of the sage; yōgam — the eightfold yoga system; karma — work; kāraṇam — the means; uchyatē — is said to be; yōga — eightfold yoga; ārūḍhasya — of one who has attained; tasya — his; ēva — certainly; śamaḥ — stopping of all material activities; kāraṇam — the means; uchyatē — is said to be.

Translation
For one who is a beginner or just started in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga, stopping of all material activities is said to be the means. This means that as one keeps doing action without being interested in the results, he realizes that the eventual goal is not do any action itself and stops getting involved in work.

ślōkaḥ
yadā hi nēndriyārthēṣu na karmasvanuṣajja‍tē ।
sarvasaṅkalpasannyāsī yōgārūḍhastadōchyatē ॥ 4 ॥

Meaning
yadā — when; hi — certainly; na — not; indriya-arthēṣu — in sense gratification; na — never; karmasu — in fruitive activities; anuṣajjatē — one necessarily engages; sarva-saṅkalpa — of all material desires; sannyāsī — renouncer; yōga-ārūḍhaḥ — elevated in yoga; tadā — at that time; uchyatē — is said to be.

Translation
A person is said to be elevated in yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities.

ślōkaḥ
uddharēdātmanātmānaṃ nātmānamavasādayēt ।
ātmaiva hyātmanō bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ ॥ 5 ॥

Meaning
uddharēt — one must deliver; ātmanā — by the mind; ātmānam — the conditioned soul; na — never; ātmānam — the conditioned soul; avasādayēt — put into degradation; ātmā — mind; ēva — certainly; hi — indeed; ātmanaḥ — of the conditioned soul; bandhuḥ — friend; ātmā — mind; ēva — certainly; ripuḥ — enemy; ātmanaḥ — of the conditioned soul.

Translation
One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.

ślōkaḥ
bandhurātmātmanastasya yēnātmaivātmanā jitaḥ ।
anātmanastu śatrutvē vartētātmaiva śatruvat ॥ 6 ॥

Meaning
bandhuḥ — friend; ātmā — the mind; ātmanaḥ — of the living entity; tasya — of him; yēna — by whom; ātmā — the mind; ēva — certainly; ātmanā — by the living entity; jitaḥ — conquered; anātmanaḥ — of one who has failed to control the mind; tu — but; śatrutvē — because of enmity; vartēta — remains; ātmā ēva — the very mind; śatru-vat — as an enemy.

Translation
For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.

ślōkaḥ
jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ ।
śītōṣṇasukhaduḥkhēṣu tathā mānāpamānayōḥ ॥ 7 ॥

Meaning
jita-ātmanaḥ — of one who has conquered his mind; praśāntasya — who has attained tranquillity by such control over the mind; parama-ātmā — the Supersoul; samāhitaḥ — approached completely; śīta — in cold; uṣṇa — heat; sukha — happiness; duḥkhēṣu — and distress; tathā — also; māna — in honor; apamānayōḥ — and dishonor.

Translation
For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.

ślōkaḥ
jñānavijñānatṛp‍tātmā kūṭasthō vijitēndriyaḥ ।
yukta ityuchyatē yōgī samalōṣṭrāśmakāñchanaḥ ॥ 8 ॥

Meaning
jñāna — by acquired knowledge; vijñāna — and realized knowledge; tṛpta — satisfied; ātmā — a living entity; kūṭa-sthaḥ — spiritually situated; vijita-indriyaḥ — sensually controlled; yuktaḥ — competent for self-realization; iti — thus; uchyatē — is said; yōgī — a mystic; sama — equipoised; lōṣṭra — pebbles; aśma — stone; kāñchanaḥ — gold.

Translation
A person is said to be established in self-realization and is called a yogī [or mystic] when he is fully satisfied by virtue of acquired knowledge and realization. Such a person is situated in transcendence and is self-controlled. He sees everything – whether it be pebbles, stones or gold – as the same.

ślōkaḥ
suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadvēṣyabandhuṣu ।
sādhuṣvapi cha pāpēṣu samabuddhirviśiṣyatē ॥ 9 ॥

Meaning
su-hṛt — to well-wishers by nature; mitra — benefactors with affection; ari — enemies; udāsīna — neutrals between belligerents; madhya-stha — mediators between belligerents; dvēṣya — the envious; bandhuṣu — and the relatives or well-wishers; sādhuṣu — unto the pious; api — as well as; cha — and; pāpēṣu — unto the sinners; sama-buddhiḥ — having equal intelligence; viśiṣyatē — is far advanced.

Translation
A person is considered still further advanced when he regards honest well-wishers, affectionate benefactors, the neutral, mediators, the envious, friends and enemies, the pious and the sinners all with an equal mind.

ślōkaḥ
yōgī yuñjīta satatamātmānaṃ rahasi sthitaḥ ।
ēkākī yatachittātmā nirāśīraparigrahaḥ ॥ 10 ॥

Meaning
yōgī — a transcendentalist; yuñjīta — must concentrate in Kriṣṇa consciousness; satatam — constantly; ātmānam — himself (by body, mind and self); rahasi — in a secluded place; sthitaḥ — being situated; ēkākī — alone; yata-chitta-ātmā — always careful in mind; nirāśīḥ — without being attracted by anything else; aparigrahaḥ — free from the feeling of possessiveness.

Translation
A transcendentalist should always engage his body, mind and self in relationship with the Supreme; he should live alone in a secluded place and should always carefully control his mind. He should be free from desires and feelings of possessiveness.

ślōkaḥ
śa‍uchau dēśē pratiṣṭhāpya sthiramāsanamātmanaḥ ।
nātyuchChritaṃ nātinīchaṃ chailājinakuśōttaram ॥ 11 ॥
tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yatachittēndriyakriya ।
upaviśyāsanē yuñ‍jyādyōgamātmaviśa‍uddhayē ॥ 12 ॥

Meaning
śuchau — in a sanctified; dēśē — land; pratiṣṭhāpya — placing; sthiram — firm; āsanam — seat; ātmanaḥ — his own; na — not; ati — too; uchchritam — high; na — nor; ati — too; nīcham — low; chaila-ajina — of soft cloth and deerskin; kuśa — and kuśa grass; uttaram — covering; tatra — thereupon; ēka-agram — with one attention; manaḥ — mind; kṛtvā — making; yata-chitta — controlling the mind; indriya — senses; kriyaḥ — and activities; upaviśya — sitting; āsanē — on the seat; yuñjyāt — should execute; yōgam — yoga practice; ātma — the heart; viśuddhayē — for clarifying.

Translation
To practice yoga, one should go to a secluded place and should lay kuśa grass on the ground and then cover it with a deerskin and a soft cloth. The seat should be neither too high nor too low and should be situated in a sacred place. The yogī should then sit on it very firmly and practice yoga to purify the heart by controlling his mind, senses and activities and fixing the mind on one point.

ślōkaḥ
samaṃ kāyaśirōgrīvaṃ dhārayannachalaṃ sthiraḥ ।
samprēkṣya nāsikāgraṃ svaṃ diśaśchānavalōkayan ॥ 13 ॥
praśāntātmā vigatabhīrbrahmachārivratē sthitaḥ ।
manaḥ saṃyamya machcha‍ittō yukta āsīta matparaḥ ॥ 14 ॥

Meaning
samam — straight; kāya — body; śiraḥ — head; grīvam — and neck; dhārayan — holding; achalam — unmoving; sthiraḥ — still; samprēkṣya — looking; nāsikā — of the nose; agram — at the tip; svam — own; diśaḥ — on all sides; cha — also; anavalōkayan — not looking; praśānta — unagitated; ātmā — mind; vigata-bhīḥ — devoid of fear; brahmachāri-vratē — in the vow of celibacy; sthitaḥ — situated; manaḥ — mind; saṃyamya — completely subduing; mat — upon Me (Kriṣṇa); chittaḥ — concentrating the mind; yuktaḥ — the actual yogī; āsīta — should sit; mat — Me; paraḥ — the ultimate goal.

Translation
One should hold one’s body, neck and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of the nose. Thus, with an unagitated, subdued mind, devoid of fear, completely free from sex life, one should meditate upon Me within the heart and make Me the ultimate goal of life.

ślōkaḥ
yuñjannēvaṃ sadātmānaṃ yōgī niyatamānasaḥ ।
śāntiṃ nirvāṇaparamāṃ matsaṃsthāmadhigachChati ॥ 15 ॥

Meaning
yuñjan — practicing; ēvam — as mentioned above; sadā — constantly; ātmānam — body, mind and soul; yōgī — the mystic transcendentalist; niyata-mānasaḥ — with a regulated mind; śāntim — peace; nirvāṇa-paramām — cessation of material existence; mat-saṃsthām — the spiritual sky (the kingdom of God); adhigachchati — does attain.

Translation
Thus practicing constant control of the body, mind and activities, the mystic transcendentalist, his mind regulated, attains to the kingdom of God [or the abode of Kriṣṇa] by cessation of material existence.

ślōkaḥ
nātyaśna‍tastu yōgō'sti na chaikāntamanaśna‍taḥ ।
na chātisvap‍naśīlasya jāgratō naiva chārjuna ॥ 16 ॥

Meaning
na — never; ati — too much; aśnataḥ — of one who eats; tu — but; yōgaḥ — linking with the Supreme; asti — there is; na — nor; cha — also; ēkāntam — overly; anaśnataḥ — abstaining from eating; na — nor; cha — also; ati — too much; svapna-śīlasya — of one who sleeps; jāgrataḥ — or one who keeps night watch too much; na — not; ēva — ever; cha — and; arjuna — O Arjuna.

Translation
There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogī, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.

ślōkaḥ
yuktāhāravihārasya yuktachēṣṭasya karmasu ।
yuktasvap‍nāvabōdhasya yōgō bhavati duḥkhahā ॥ 17 ॥

Meaning
yukta — regulated; āhāra — eating; vihārasya — recreation; yukta — regulated; chēṣṭasya — of one who works for maintenance; karmasu — in discharging duties; yukta — regulated; svapna-avabōdhasya — sleep and wakefulness; yōgaḥ — practice of yoga; bhavati — becomes; duḥkha-hā — diminishing pains.

Translation
He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.

ślōkaḥ
yadā viniyataṃ chittamātmanyēvāvatiṣṭhatē ।
nispṛhaḥ sarvakāmēbhyō yukta ityuchyatē tadā ॥ 18 ॥

Meaning
yadā — when; viniyatam — particularly disciplined; chittam — the mind and its activities; ātmani — in the transcendence; ēva — certainly; avatiṣṭhatē — becomes situated; nispṛhaḥ — devoid of desire; sarva — for all kinds of; kāmēbhyaḥ — material sense gratification; yuktaḥ — well situated in yoga; iti — thus; uchyatē — is said to be; tadā — at that time.

Translation
When the yogī, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence – devoid of all material desires – he is said to be well established in yoga.

ślōkaḥ
yathā dīpō nivātasthō nēṅgatē sōpamā smṛtā ।
yōginō yatachittasya yuñjatō yōgamātmanaḥ ॥ 19 ॥

Meaning
yathā — as; dīpaḥ — a lamp; nivāta-sthaḥ — in a place without wind; na — does not; iṅgatē — waver; sā — this; upamā — comparison; smṛtā — is considered; yōginaḥ — of the yogī; yata-chittasya — whose mind is controlled; yuñjataḥ — constantly engaged; yōgam — in meditation; ātmanaḥ — on transcendence.

Translation
As a lamp in a windless place does not waver, so the transcendentalist, whose mind is controlled, remains always steady in his meditation on the transcendent Self.

ślōkaḥ
yatrōparamatē chittaṃ niruddhaṃ yōgasēvayā ।
yatra chaivātmanātmānaṃ paśyannātmani tuṣyati ॥ 20 ॥
sukhamātyantikaṃ yattad‍buddhigrāhyamatīndriyam ।
vētti yatra na chaivāyaṃ sthitaśchalati tattvataḥ ॥ 21 ॥
yaṃ labdhvā chāparaṃ lābhaṃ manyatē nādhikaṃ tataḥ ।
yasminsthitō na duḥkhēna guruṇāpi vichālyatē ॥ 22 ॥
taṃ vidyādduḥkhasaṃyōgaviyōgaṃ yōgasañjñitam ॥ 23 ॥

Meaning
yatra — in that state of affairs where; uparamatē — cease (because one feels transcendental happiness); chittam — mental activities; niruddham — being restrained from matter; yōga-sēvayā — by performance of yoga; yatra — in which; cha — also; ēva — certainly; ātmanā — by the pure mind; ātmānam — the Self; paśyan — realizing the position of; ātmani — in the Self; tuṣyati — one becomes satisfied; sukham — happiness; ātyantikam — supreme; yat — which; tat — that; buddhi — by intelligence; grāhyam — accessible; atīndriyam — transcendental; vētti — one knows; yatra — wherein; na — never; cha — also; ēva — certainly; ayam — he; sthitaḥ — situated; chalati — moves; tattvataḥ — from the truth; yam — that which; labdhvā — by attainment; cha — also; aparam — any other; lābham — gain; manyatē — considers; na — never; adhikam — more; tataḥ — than that; yasmin — in which; sthitaḥ — being situated; na — never; duḥkhēna — by miseries; guruṇā api — even though very difficult; vichālyatē — becomes shaken; tam — that; vidyāt — you must know; duḥkha-saṃyōga — of the miseries of material contact; viyōgam — extermination; yōga-sañjñitam — called trance in yoga.

Translation
In the stage of perfection called trance, or samādhi, one’s mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one’s ability to see the Self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the Self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact.

ślōkaḥ
sa niśchayēna yōktavyō yōgō'nirviṇṇachētasā ।
saṅkalpaprabhavānkāmāṃstyaktvā sarvānaśēṣataḥ ।
manasaivēndriyagrāmaṃ viniyamya samantataḥ ॥ 24 ॥

Meaning
saḥ — that; niśchayēna — with firm determination; yōktavyaḥ — must be practiced; yōgaḥ — yoga system; anirviṇṇa-chētasā — without deviation; saṅkalpa — mental speculations; prabhavān — born of; kāmān — material desires; tyaktvā — giving up; sarvān — all; aśēṣataḥ — completely; manasā — by the mind; ēva — certainly; indriya-grāmam — the full set of senses; viniyamya — regulating; samantataḥ — from all sides.

Translation
One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with determination and faith and not be deviated from the path. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of mental speculation and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind.

ślōkaḥ
śanaiḥ śanairuparamēd‍buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā ।
ātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñchidapi chintayēt ॥ 25 ॥

Meaning
śanaiḥ — gradually; śanaiḥ — step by step; uparamēt — one should hold back; buddhyā — by intelligence; dhṛti-gṛhītayā — carried by conviction; ātma-saṃstham — placed in transcendence; manaḥ — mind; kṛtvā — making; na — not; kiñchit — anything else; api — even; chintayēt — should think of.

Translation
Gradually, step by step, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence sustained by full conviction, and thus the mind should be fixed on the Self alone and should think of nothing else.

ślōkaḥ
yatō yatō niśchalati manaśchañchalamasthiram ।
tatastatō niyamyaitadātmanyēva vaśaṃ nayēt ॥ 26 ॥

Meaning
yataḥ yataḥ — wherever; niśchalati — becomes verily agitated; manaḥ — the mind; chañchalam — flickering; asthiram — unsteady; tataḥ tataḥ — from there; niyamya — regulating; ētat — this; ātmani — in the Self; ēva — certainly; vaśam — control; nayēt — must bring under.

Translation
From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.

ślōkaḥ
praśāntamanasaṃ hyēnaṃ yōginaṃ sukhamuttamam ।
upaiti śāntarajasaṃ brahmabhūtamakalmaṣam ॥ 27 ॥

Meaning
praśānta — peaceful, fixed on the lotus feet of Kriṣṇa; manasam — whose mind; hi — certainly; ēnam — this; yōginam — yogī; sukham — happiness; uttamam — the highest; upaiti — attains; śānta-rajasam — his passion pacified; brahma-bhūtam — liberation by identification with the Absolute; akalmaṣam — freed from all past sinful reactions.

Translation
The yogī whose mind is fixed on Me verily attains the highest perfection of transcendental happiness. He is beyond the mode of passion, he realizes his qualitative identity with the Supreme, and thus he is freed from all reactions to past deeds.

ślōkaḥ
yuñjannēvaṃ sadātmānaṃ yōgī vigatakalmaṣaḥ ।
sukhēna brahmasaṃsparśamatyantaṃ sukhamaśna‍utē ॥ 28 ॥

Meaning
yuñjan — engaging in yoga practice; ēvam — thus; sadā — always; ātmānam — the self; yōgī — one who is in touch with the Supreme Self; vigata — freed from; kalmaṣaḥ — all material contamination; sukhēna — in transcendental happiness; brahma-saṃsparśam — being in constant touch with the Supreme; atyantam — the highest; sukham — happiness; aśnutē — attains.

Translation
Thus the self-controlled yogī, constantly engaged in yoga practice, becomes free from all material contamination and achieves the highest stage of perfect happiness in transcendental loving service to the Lord.

ślōkaḥ
sarvabhūtasthamātmānaṃ sarvabhūtāni chātmani ।
īkṣatē yōgayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ ॥ 29 ॥

Meaning
sarva-bhūta-stham — situated in all beings; ātmānam — the Supersoul; sarva — all; bhūtāni — entities; cha — also; ātmani — in the Self; īkṣatē — does see; yōga-yukta-ātmā — one who is dovetailed in Kriṣṇa consciousness; sarvatra — everywhere; sama-darśanaḥ — seeing equally.

Translation
A true yogī observes Me in all beings and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized person sees Me, the same Supreme Lord, everywhere.

ślōkaḥ
yō māṃ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṃ cha mayi paśyati ।
tasyāhaṃ na praṇaśyāmi sa cha mē na praṇaśyati ॥ 30 ॥

Meaning
yaḥ — whoever; mām — Me; paśyati — sees; sarvatra — everywhere; sarvam — everything; cha — and; mayi — in Me; paśyati — sees; tasya — for him; aham — I; na — not; praṇaśyāmi — am lost; saḥ — he; cha — also; mē — to Me; na — nor; praṇaśyati — is lost.

Translation
For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.

ślōkaḥ
sarvabhūtasthitaṃ yō māṃ bhajatyēkatvamāsthitaḥ ।
sarvathā vartamānō'pi sa yōgī mayi vartatē ॥ 31 ॥

Meaning
sarva-bhūta-sthitam — situated in everyone’s heart; yaḥ — he who; mām — Me; bhajati — serves in devotional service; ēkatvam — in oneness; āsthitaḥ — situated; sarvathā — in all respects; vartamānaḥ — being situated; api — in spite of; saḥ — he; yōgī — the transcendentalist; mayi — in Me; vartatē — remains.

Translation
Such a yogī, who engages in the worshipful service of the Supersoul, knowing that I and the Supersoul are one, remains always in Me in all circumstances.

ślōkaḥ
ātmaupamyēna sarvatra samaṃ paśyati yō'rjuna ।
sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ sa yōgī paramō mataḥ ॥ 32 ॥

Meaning
ātma — with his self; aupamyēna — by comparison; sarvatra — everywhere; samam — equally; paśyati — sees; yaḥ — he who; arjuna — O Arjuna; sukham — happiness; vā — or; yadi — if; vā — or; duḥkham — distress; saḥ — such; yōgī — a transcendentalist; paramaḥ — perfect; mataḥ — is considered.

Translation
He is a perfect yogī who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna!

ślōkaḥ
arjuna uvācha
yō'yaṃ yōgastvayā prōktaḥ sāmyēna madhusūdana ।
ētasyāhaṃ na paśyāmi chañchalatvātsthitiṃ sthirām ॥ 33 ॥

Meaning
arjunaḥ uvācha — Arjuna said; yaḥ ayam — this system; yōgaḥ — mysticism; tvayā — by You; prōktaḥ — described; sāmyēna — generally; madhu-sūdana — O killer of the demon Madhu; ētasya — of this; aham — I; na — do not; paśyāmi — see; chañchalatvāt — due to being restless; sthitim — situation; sthirām — stable.

Translation
Arjuna said: O Madhusūdana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady.

ślōkaḥ
chañchalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavaddṛḍham ।
tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manyē vāyōriva suduṣkaram ॥ 34 ॥

Meaning
chañchalam — flickering; hi — certainly; manaḥ — mind; kṛṣṇa — O Kriṣṇa; pramāthi — agitating; bala-vat — strong; dṛḍham — obstinate; tasya — its; aham — I; nigraham — subduing; manyē — think; vāyōḥ — of the wind; iva — like; su-duṣkaram — difficult.

Translation
The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kriṣṇa, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.

ślōkaḥ
śrībhagavānuvācha
asaṃśayaṃ mahābāhō manō durnigrahaṃ chalam ।
abhyāsēna tu kauntēya vairāgyēṇa cha gṛhyatē ॥ 35 ॥

Meaning
śrī-bhagavān uvācha — the Personality of Godhead said; asaṃśayam — undoubtedly; mahā-bāhō — O mighty-armed one; manaḥ — the mind; durnigraham — difficult to curb; chalam — flickering; abhyāsēna — by practice; tu — but; kauntēya — O son of Kuntī; vairāgyēṇa — by detachment; cha — also; gṛhyatē — can be so controlled.

Translation
Lord Śrī Kriṣṇa said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by suitable practice and by detachment.

ślōkaḥ
asaṃyatātmanā yōgō duṣprāpa iti mē matiḥ ।
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyō'vāp‍tumupāyataḥ ॥ 36 ॥

Meaning
asaṃyata — unbridled; ātmanā — by the mind; yōgaḥ — self-realization; duṣprāpaḥ — difficult to obtain; iti — thus; mē — My; matiḥ — opinion; vaśya — controlled; ātmanā — by the mind; tu — but; yatatā — while endeavoring; śakyaḥ — practical; avāptum — to achieve; upāyataḥ — by appropriate means.

Translation
For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by appropriate means is assured of success. That is My opinion.

ślōkaḥ
arjuna uvācha
ayatiḥ śraddhayōpētō yōgāchcha‍‍litamānasaḥ ।
aprāpya yōgasaṃsiddhiṃ kāṃ gatiṃ kṛṣṇa gachChati ॥ 37 ॥

Meaning
arjunaḥ uvācha — Arjuna said; ayatiḥ — the unsuccessful transcendentalist; śraddhayā — with faith; upētaḥ — engaged; yōgāt — from the mystic link; chalita — deviated; mānasaḥ — who has such a mind; aprāpya — failing to attain; yōga-saṃsiddhim — the highest perfection in mysticism; kām — which; gatim — destination; kṛṣṇa — O Kriṣṇa; gachchati — achieves.

Translation
Arjuna said: O Kriṣṇa, what is the destination of the unsuccessful transcendentalist, who in the beginning takes to the process of self-realization with faith but who later desists due to worldly-mindedness and thus does not attain perfection in mysticism?

ślōkaḥ
kachcha‍innōbhayavibhraṣṭaśChinnābhramiva naśyati ।
apratiṣṭhō mahābāhō vimūḍhō brahmaṇaḥ pathi ॥ 38 ॥

Meaning
kachchit — whether; na — not; ubhaya — both; vibhraṣṭaḥ — deviated from; chinna — torn; abhram — cloud; iva — like; naśyati — perishes; apratiṣṭhaḥ — without any position; mahā-bāhō — O mighty-armed Kriṣṇa; vimūḍhaḥ — bewildered; brahmaṇaḥ — of transcendence; pathi — on the path.

Translation
O mighty-armed Kriṣṇa, does not such a man, who is bewildered from the path of transcendence, fall away from both spiritual and material success and perish like a riven cloud, with no position in any sphere?

ślōkaḥ
ētanmē saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa Chēttumarhasyaśēṣataḥ ।
tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya Chēttā na hyupapadyatē ॥ 39 ॥

Meaning
ētat — this is; mē — my; saṃśayam — doubt; kṛṣṇa — O Kriṣṇa; chēttum — to dispel; arhasi — You are requested; aśēṣataḥ — completely; tvat — than You; anyaḥ — other; saṃśayasya — of the doubt; asya — this; chēttā — remover; na — never; hi — certainly; upapadyatē — is to be found.

Translation
This is my doubt, O Kriṣṇa, and I ask You to dispel it completely. But for You, no one is to be found who can destroy this doubt.

ślōkaḥ
śrībhagavānuvācha
pārtha naivēha nāmutra vināśastasya vidyatē ।
na hi kalyāṇakṛtkaśchiddurgatiṃ tāta gachChati ॥ 40 ॥

Meaning
śrī-bhagavān uvācha — Bhagavan Sri Krishna said; pārtha — O son of Prithā; na ēva — never is it so; iha — in this material world; na — never; amutra — in the next life; vināśaḥ — destruction; tasya — his; vidyatē — exists; na — never; hi — certainly; kalyāṇa-kṛt — one who is engaged in auspicious activities; kaśchit — anyone; durgatim — to degradation; tāta — My friend; gachchati — goes.

Translation
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said: Son of Prithā, a transcendentalist engaged in auspicious activities does not meet with destruction either in this world or in the spiritual world; one who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil.

ślōkaḥ
prāpya puṇyakṛtāṃ lōkānuṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ ।
śa‍uchīnāṃ śrīmatāṃ gēhē yōgabhraṣṭō'bhijāyatē ॥ 41 ॥

Meaning
prāpya — after achieving; puṇya-kṛtām — of those who performed pious activities; lōkān — planets; uṣitvā — after dwelling; śāśvatīḥ — many; samāḥ — years; śuchīnām — of the pious; śrī-matām — of the prosperous; gēhē — in the house; yōga-bhraṣṭaḥ — one who has fallen from the path of self-realization; abhijāyatē — takes his birth.

Translation
The unsuccessful yogī, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy.

ślōkaḥ
athavā yōgināmēva kulē bhavati dhīmatām ।
ētaddhi durlabhataraṃ lōkē janma yadīdṛśam ॥ 42 ॥

Meaning
atha vā — or; yōginām — of learned transcendentalists; ēva — certainly; kulē — in the family; bhavati — takes birth; dhī-matām — of those who are endowed with great wisdom; ētat — this; hi — certainly; durlabha-taram — very rare; lōkē — in this world; janma — birth; yat — that which; īdṛśam — like this.

Translation
Or [if unsuccessful after long practice of yoga] he takes his birth in a family of transcendentalists who are surely great in wisdom. Certainly, such a birth is rare in this world.

ślōkaḥ
tatra taṃ buddhisaṃyōgaṃ labhatē paurvadēhikam ।
yatatē cha tatō bhūyaḥ saṃsiddhau kurunandana ॥ 43 ॥

Meaning
tatra — thereupon; tam — that; buddhi-saṃyōgam — revival of consciousness; labhatē — gains; paurva-dēhikam — from the previous body; yatatē — he endeavors; cha — also; tataḥ — thereafter; bhūyaḥ — again; saṃsiddhau — for perfection; kuru-nandana — O son of Kuru.

Translation
On taking such a birth, he revives the divine consciousness of his previous life, and he again tries to make further progress in order to achieve complete success, O son of Kuru.

ślōkaḥ
pūrvābhyāsēna tēnaiva hriyatē hyavaśō'pi saḥ ।
jijñāsurapi yōgasya śabdabrahmātivartatē ॥ 44 ॥

Meaning
pūrva — previous; abhyāsēna — by practice; tēna — by that; ēva — certainly; hriyatē — is attracted; hi — surely; avaśaḥ — automatically; api — also; saḥ — he; jijñāsuḥ — inquisitive; api — even; yōgasya — about yoga; śabda-brahma — ritualistic principles of scriptures; ativartatē — transcends.

Translation
By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles – even without seeking them. Such an inquisitive transcendentalist stands always above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures.

ślōkaḥ
prayat‍nādyatamānastu yōgī saṃśa‍uddhakilbiṣaḥ ।
anēkajanmasaṃsiddhastatō yāti parāṃ gatim ॥ 45 ॥

Meaning
prayatnāt — by rigid practice; yatamānaḥ — endeavoring; tu — and; yōgī — such a transcendentalist; saṃśuddha — washed off; kilbiṣaḥ — all of whose sins; anēka — after many, many; janma — births; saṃsiddhaḥ — having achieved perfection; tataḥ — thereafter; yāti — attains; parām — the highest; gatim — destination.

Translation
And when the yogī engages himself with sincere endeavor in making further progress, being washed of all contaminations, then ultimately, achieving perfection after many, many births of practice, he attains the supreme goal.

ślōkaḥ
tapasvibhyō'dhikō yōgī jñānibhyō'pi matō'dhikaḥ ।
karmibhyaśchādhikō yōgī tasmādyōgī bhavārjuna ॥ 46 ॥

Meaning
tapasvibhyaḥ — than the ascetics; adhikaḥ — greater; yōgī — the yogī; jñānibhyaḥ — than the wise; api — also; mataḥ — considered; adhikaḥ — greater; karmibhyaḥ — than the fruitive workers; cha — also; adhikaḥ — greater; yōgī — the yogī; tasmāt — therefore; yōgī — a transcendentalist; bhava — just become; arjuna — O Arjuna.

Translation
A yogī is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogī.

ślōkaḥ
yōgināmapi sarvēṣāṃ madga‍tēnāntarātmanā ।
śraddhāvānbhajatē yō māṃ sa mē yuktatamō mataḥ ॥ 47 ॥

Meaning
yōginām — of yogīs; api — also; sarvēṣām — all types of; mat-gatēna — abiding in Me, always thinking of Me; antaḥ-ātmanā — within himself; śraddhā-vān — in full faith; bhajatē — renders transcendental loving service; yaḥ — one who; mām — to Me (the Supreme Lord); saḥ — he; mē — by Me; yukta-tamaḥ — the greatest yogī; mataḥ — is considered.

Translation
And of all yogīs, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself and renders transcendental loving service to Me – he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.

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