Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 14

Chapter 6 – Dhyana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः ।
मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः ॥

Transliteration

praśāntātmā vigatabhīrbrahmacārivrate sthitaḥ .
manaḥ saṃyamya maccitto yukta āsīta matparaḥ ॥

Meaning

Serene and fearless, firm in the vow of celibacy, restraining the mind and fixing it on Me, let him sit in yoga, alert, regarding Me as the supreme goal.

Word meanings

प्रशान्तात्मा – with a serene heart
विगतभीः – free from fear
ब्रह्मचारिव्रते – in the vow of brahmacharya
स्थितः – established
मनः – the mind
संयम्य – having restrained
मच्चित्तः – with mind fixed on Me
युक्तः – alert, absorbed in yoga
आसीत – should sit
मत्परः – holding Me as the supreme goal

Anvaya (word order)

प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीः ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः (सन्) मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तः मत्परः युक्तः आसीत ।

Explanation

Having described posture, Krishna now describes the state of mind, which is the real heart of meditation. The first quality is prashantatma — a serene heart. Before sitting, one should quiet any agitation, anger or turmoil; a few deep breaths, a prayer or the repetition of a mantra can help.

The second is vigatabhih — freedom from fear. As the mind goes deeper within, fears sometimes surface: fear of the unknown, of being alone, worries about the body. Fear pulls the mind outward again. One who trusts the teacher, the scripture and the Lord passes beyond such fear.

The third is brahmachari-vrate sthitah — established in the vow of brahmacharya. Traditionally this means sense-restraint, especially control of sexual desire, so that vital energy is not dissipated. For householders the commentators interpret it as a disciplined, measured life. The deeper meaning of the word is 'moving in Brahman' — keeping the mind oriented toward the highest truth.

The last and most important point is macchitto matparah. Here Krishna makes the object of meditation explicit: let the mind rest in Me; let Me be the supreme goal. The meditation of the Gita is not merely a technique for emptying the mind; it is concentration devoted to the Lord. Ramanuja stresses that the Lord is the support of meditation, and that fixing the mind on Him brings it under control naturally, just as fire burns away the impurities of metal. Shankara explains matparah as one for whom the Supreme Lord is the highest refuge.

Thus verses 6.10–14 give the complete method: solitude, seat, posture, gaze, a calm mind, fearlessness, restraint, and the mind fixed on the Divine. The next verse describes the fruit of this practice.

Context

Verse 6.13 gave the bodily posture; this verse completes the method with the inner attitude during meditation and its object, the Lord. Verse 6.15 then describes the fruit of the practice — the supreme peace that culminates in nirvana.

Life lesson

Meditation is not merely seating the body but anchoring the mind on something sacred. Sit free of fear and restlessness, with a disciplined life, keeping your chosen ideal or the highest truth at the centre. In life too, a lofty aim keeps the mind from scattering.

Key terms

Vigatabhih: free from fear
Brahmachari-vrata: the vow of sense-restraint and disciplined living
Macchitta: one whose mind is fixed on the Lord
Matpara: one who holds the Lord as the supreme goal