Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 15

Chapter 6 – Dhyana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

युञ्जन्नेवं सदात्मानं योगी नियतमानसः ।
शान्तिं निर्वाणपरमां मत्संस्थामधिगच्छति ॥

Transliteration

yuñjannevaṃ sadātmānaṃ yogī niyatamānasaḥ .
śāntiṃ nirvāṇaparamāṃ matsaṃsthāmadhigacchati ॥

Meaning

Thus constantly uniting his mind with the Supreme, the yogi of disciplined mind attains the peace that abides in Me — the peace whose culmination is nirvana.

Word meanings

युञ्जन् – uniting, engaging
एवम् – thus
सदा – always
आत्मानम् – the mind
योगी – the yogi
नियतमानसः – with a disciplined mind
शान्तिम् – peace
निर्वाणपरमाम् – culminating in nirvana (liberation)
मत्संस्थाम् – abiding in Me
अधिगच्छति – attains

Anvaya (word order)

एवं सदा आत्मानं युञ्जन् नियतमानसः योगी मत्संस्थां निर्वाणपरमां शान्तिम् अधिगच्छति ।

Explanation

Having taught the method, Krishna now states its fruit. Evam — thus, according to the method of 6.10–14 — the yogi who practises sada, always, attains supreme peace. The word 'always' matters: the fruit comes not from meditating once or twice but from sustained practice.

This is no ordinary peace. Moments of peace come in worldly life too — when a desire is fulfilled, when we rest after fatigue, when we see a beautiful sight. But they are fleeting and depend on outer conditions. The peace Krishna speaks of is nirvana-parama, whose culmination is nirvana — liberation, the complete cessation of worldly bondage. It is not the emptiness of a lamp blown out, but the fullness revealed when every restlessness has been extinguished.

And this peace is mat-samstha — abiding in the Lord. The foundation of the yogi's peace is no object or circumstance, but the Supreme Himself. Shankara explains that this peace rests in the Supreme Lord and its highest form is liberation. Ramanuja describes it as the supremely blissful peace found in the Lord's presence.

Thus the final fruit of meditation is not merely mental well-being but attainment of the Divine. In the coming verses Krishna explains the balance in daily life that makes this practice successful.

Context

Verses 6.10–14 gave the method of meditation; this verse states its fruit. In the next two verses (6.16–17) Krishna describes the need for balance in eating, sleeping and activity — the 'yukta' life.

Life lesson

True peace does not come from acquiring something but from the mind resting in God. Only regular, patient practice makes this peace lasting. Meditate a little each day, but without missing a day.

Key terms

Niyata-manasa: one whose mind is disciplined
Nirvana: complete cessation of bondage; liberation
Mat-samstha: abiding in the Lord