Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 12

Chapter 6 – Dhyana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः ।
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये ॥

Transliteration

tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yatacittendriyakriyaḥ .
upaviśyāsane yuñjyādyogamātmaviśuddhaye ॥

Meaning

Seated there on that seat, making the mind one-pointed and restraining the activities of mind and senses, let him practise yoga for the purification of the heart.

Word meanings

तत्र – there, on that
एकाग्रम् – one-pointed
मनः – the mind
कृत्वा – making
यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः – with the activities of mind and senses restrained
उपविश्य – sitting
आसने – on the seat
युञ्ज्यात् – should practise
योगम् – yoga
आत्मविशुद्धये – for the purification of the self (the inner instrument)

Anvaya (word order)

तत्र आसने उपविश्य मनः एकाग्रं कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः (सन्) आत्मविशुद्धये योगं युञ्ज्यात् ।

Explanation

The previous verse prepared the seat; now Krishna explains what to do when seated upon it. Here is the central practice of meditation — ekagram manah kritva, making the mind one-pointed. Normally the mind is scattered in many directions: into past events, into future worries, into the objects of the senses. One-pointedness means gathering these scattered rays into a single point, just as a magnifying glass gathers the rays of the sun.

For this one must be yata-chittendriya-kriyah — with the activities of the mind (the racing of thoughts) and of the senses (the outward pull of seeing, hearing and so on) held in restraint. The senses are like windows; if they stay open, the wind from outside keeps shaking the lamp within. In meditation these windows are gently closed.

Most important of all is the purpose of the practice — atma-vishuddhaye, for the purification of the inner self. Krishna does not present meditation as a means to miraculous powers, display, or mere relaxation. Its aim is to wash away the stains of attraction, aversion and craving from the mind, so that in a pure mind the light of the Self, or of the Supreme, may be clearly reflected. Shankara reads it simply as the purification of the inner instrument; Ramanuja explains that this purification removes the bonds that obstruct realisation of the Self.

Thus this verse contains three elements of meditation: sitting rightly, fixing the mind on one object, and holding the right purpose. The next verse gives precise instructions on posture.

Context

Verse 6.11 described the setting up of the seat; this verse speaks of sitting on it and concentrating the mind. The next verse (6.13) instructs on the alignment of body, head and neck and on the gaze.

Life lesson

The aim of meditation is not merely stress relief but inner purification. If the mind wanders again and again during meditation, do not lose heart; patiently keep bringing it back to a single object — the breath, a mantra, or the form of the Divine. That returning is itself the practice of concentration.

Key terms

Ekagra: one-pointed, fixed on a single object
Yata-chittendriya-kriya: one who restrains the activities of mind and senses
Atma-vishuddhi: purification of the inner self