Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15, Verse 11

Chapter 15 – Purushottama Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम् ।
यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतसः ॥

Transliteration

yatanto yoginaścainaṃ paśyantyātmanyavasthitam .
yatanto.apyakṛtātmāno nainaṃ paśyantyacetasaḥ ॥

Meaning

Striving yogis behold this Self established within themselves; but those whose minds are unpurified and who lack discernment do not see It, even though they strive.

Word meanings

यतन्तः – striving, earnestly practising
योगिनः – the yogis
च – and
एनम् – this (Self)
पश्यन्ति – see, realise
आत्मनि – in themselves, in their own intellect
अवस्थितम् – established, dwelling
यतन्तः अपि – even though striving
अकृतात्मानः – those whose inner being is unrefined
न – not
एनम् – this
पश्यन्ति – see
अचेतसः – lacking discernment, undiscerning

Anvaya (word order)

यतन्तः योगिनः च आत्मनि अवस्थितम् एनम् पश्यन्ति, (किन्तु) अकृतात्मानः अचेतसः यतन्तः अपि एनम् न पश्यन्ति ।

Explanation

In the previous verse Krishna said that the deluded do not perceive the Self as It departs, abides or enjoys, while those with the eye of wisdom do. Here He sharpens the point. The same word, yatantah, ‘striving’, is used for both groups. The yogi strives and so does the unrefined person; effort alone does not make the difference.

The difference lies in the preparation of the inner instrument. The akritatman is one who has not shaped the mind through self-restraint, austerity and selfless action; the acetas is one in whom the discrimination between the lasting and the passing has not awakened. Such a person may read scripture or sit for meditation, yet the Self remains an idea rather than a living recognition. A clouded mirror cannot show a clear face, and a turbulent, impure mind cannot reflect the light of the Self.

Shankara takes atmani to mean ‘in one’s own intellect’: the purified yogi recognises the witnessing consciousness there as ‘This am I’. Ramanuja reads the verse as the vision of the individual self in its true nature, distinct from matter, granted to one purified by karma yoga. Both agree that purity is the precondition. The Katha Upanishad makes the same claim: one who has not turned from wrong conduct and whose mind is not at peace cannot reach the Self merely by cleverness.

The verse thus sets the order of spiritual life: first the cleansing of the heart, then the vision. Effort is necessary, but it must be joined with purity and discernment.

Context

Krishna continues to teach Arjuna in the Purushottama Yoga about the embodied Self. Verse 10 contrasted the deluded with those who have the eye of wisdom; this verse contrasts the disciplined yogi with the unrefined striver. From the next verse Krishna begins to show His presence in the light of the sun, moon and fire.

Life lesson

Hard work is not enough; the direction of effort and the purity of the mind matter just as much. Anyone seeking inner growth should first refine conduct, self-control and discernment, so that practice can bear fruit.

Key terms

Yogi: a seeker who disciplines and focuses the mind through practice
Akritatman: one whose inner being is not refined by discipline
Acetas: one lacking discriminative insight