Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 23

Chapter 6 – Dhyana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

तं विद्याद् दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् ।
स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा ॥

Transliteration

taṃ vidyād duḥkhasaṃyogaviyogaṃ yogasaṃjñitam .
sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo.anirviṇṇacetasā ॥

Meaning

Know that state, the severance of all union with sorrow, to be what is called yoga. This yoga should be practised with firm resolve and with a mind free from discouragement.

Word meanings

तम् – that
विद्यात् – one should know
दुःखसंयोगवियोगम् – disunion from union with sorrow
योगसंज्ञितम् – called by the name yoga
सः – that
निश्चयेन – with firm resolve
योक्तव्यः – should be practised
योगः – yoga
अनिर्विण्णचेतसा – with an undespairing, unwearied mind

Anvaya (word order)

तं दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितं विद्यात्; सः योगः निश्चयेन अनिर्विण्णचेतसा योक्तव्यः ।

Explanation

The long sentence that began at 6.20 is completed here. Krishna says: know the state just described to be yoga. And he gives a remarkable definition — duhkha-samyoga-viyogam yoga-samjnitam — yoga is the disunion from union with sorrow.

The definition is a beautiful play on words. Yoga ordinarily means 'joining'; yet Krishna says that yoga is in truth a 'disjoining' — the breaking of our connection with sorrow. We are the Self, but we have identified ourselves with body and mind, and through that identification we take their pain as our own. When this false union is broken, sorrow loses its hold on us. Yoga thus does two things at once: it unites us with the Supreme and separates us from sorrow.

Then Krishna gives a very practical instruction — sa nishchayena yoktavyo yogo 'nirvinna-chetasa — this yoga must be practised with determination and with an undespairing mind. Nishchaya is the firm conviction that this path is right and that the goal will surely be reached. Anirvinna means without weariness, boredom or discouragement. Traditional commentators such as Madhusudana Sarasvati recount a well-known illustration: a small bird, whose eggs had been carried away by the sea, resolved to empty the ocean with its beak; moved by its unshakable perseverance, Garuda came to its aid. So too the seeker's tireless perseverance draws down divine grace.

This verse matters to every practitioner, because progress in meditation is slow and discouragement comes easily. Krishna's message is: even when results are not quickly visible, do not give up.

Context

Verses 6.20–22 gave the marks of yoga's highest state; this verse gathers them into a definition of yoga and urges patience and resolve in practice. In the next verses (6.24–26) Krishna again explains the inner process of meditation — giving up desires and gradually settling the mind in the Self.

Life lesson

No good practice bears fruit instantly. Whether in meditation, health or building character, resolve and steady perseverance without boredom are the keys to success. Even when the mind says 'nothing is happening', do not abandon the practice.

Key terms

Duhkha-samyoga-viyoga: severance of the connection with sorrow — the definition of yoga
Nishchaya: firm conviction and resolve
Anirvinna-chetas: a mind free from weariness and despair