Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 27

Chapter 6 – Dhyana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

प्रशान्तमनसं ह्येनं योगिनं सुखमुत्तमम् ।
उपैति शान्तरजसं ब्रह्मभूतमकल्मषम् ॥

Transliteration

praśāntamanasaṃ hyenaṃ yoginaṃ sukhamuttamam .
upaiti śāntarajasaṃ brahmabhūtamakalmaṣam ॥

Meaning

Supreme happiness comes to the yogi whose mind is perfectly calm, whose restlessness (rajas) is stilled, who is free from impurity and has become one with Brahman.

Word meanings

प्रशान्तमनसम् – one whose mind is perfectly calm
हि – indeed
एनम् – this
योगिनम् – yogi
सुखम् – happiness
उत्तमम् – supreme
उपैति – comes to, approaches
शान्तरजसम् – one whose rajas is stilled
ब्रह्मभूतम् – become one with Brahman
अकल्मषम् – free from impurity

Anvaya (word order)

प्रशान्तमनसं शान्तरजसम् अकल्मषं ब्रह्मभूतम् एनं योगिनं हि उत्तमं सुखम् उपैति ।

Explanation

This verse states the fruit of repeatedly bringing the mind back to the Self. Interestingly, happiness here 'comes to' the yogi — upaiti. The yogi does not chase happiness; when the mind is calm and pure, supreme happiness arrives by itself, as the reflection of the moon settles naturally on a still lake.

Four marks describe this yogi. Prashanta-manas — the mind perfectly calm. Shanta-rajas — rajas stilled, that is, craving, restlessness, attachment and the urge for needless activity have subsided. It is rajas that keeps driving the mind toward one thing after another; when it settles, the light of sattva shines forth. Akalmasha — free from sin and impurity; practice and restraint have washed away the stains of old tendencies. Brahma-bhuta — become Brahman, one who has realised his oneness with the Absolute.

The commentators read brahma-bhuta in different ways. For Shankara it means one liberated while living, who is convinced that 'all is Brahman' and has become Brahman. Ramanuja interprets it as one established in his pure nature as the Self, pure and of the nature of knowledge like Brahman.

The 'supreme happiness' spoken of here is the same infinite, transcendent joy described in 6.21. In the next verse Krishna will call it the bliss of contact with Brahman.

Context

Verse 6.26 taught the practice of bringing back the wandering mind; this verse gives its fruit. The next verse (6.28) says that such a yogi easily experiences the infinite bliss of contact with Brahman.

Life lesson

Instead of chasing happiness, focus on making the mind calm and pure. As restlessness (rajas) decreases, joy begins to arise naturally. Identify and reduce the needless rush and stimulation in your life.

Key terms

Shanta-rajas: one whose restlessness and craving are stilled
Akalmasha: free from sin and impurity
Brahma-bhuta: become one with, or established in, Brahman
Uttama sukha: supreme, spiritual happiness