Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 12

Chapter 8 – Akshara Brahma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च ।
मूध्न्यार्धायात्मनः प्राणमास्थितो योगधारणाम् ॥

Transliteration

sarvadvārāṇi saṃyamya mano hṛdi nirudhya ca .
mūdhnyā^^rdhāyātmanaḥ prāṇamāsthito yogadhāraṇām ॥

Meaning

Having restrained all the gates of the senses, confined the mind in the heart, placed one's life-breath in the head, and being established in yogic concentration,

Word meanings

सर्वद्वाराणि – all gates (of the senses)
संयम्य – having restrained
मनः – the mind
हृदि – in the heart
निरुध्य – having confined
च – and
मूर्ध्नि – in the head
आधाय – having placed
आत्मनः प्राणम् – one's own life-breath
आस्थितः – established
योगधारणाम् – in yogic concentration

Anvaya (word order)

सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य, मनः हृदि निरुध्य च, आत्मनः प्राणं मूर्ध्नि आधाय, योगधारणाम् आस्थितः (सन्) ।

Explanation

This verse joins the next (8.13) in one sentence; it gives the inner process of yoga practised at the time of death. There are four clear steps.

First, sarvadvarani samyamya: withdrawing all the gates of the body, the senses, from their objects. The mind streams outward through the eyes, ears, nose and so on; without closing these gates, going inward is impossible. Second, mano hridi nirudhya: holding the mind in the heart region, which the Upanishads regard as the place of realising Brahman. Third, murdhnyadhayatmanah pranam: drawing one's prana up into the head, rising along the sushumna channel, which yoga texts call utkramana. Fourth, yogadharanam asthitah: remaining firmly established in yogic concentration.

Shankara presents this as the process of a yogi heading toward the world of Hiranyagarbha and gradual liberation. Ramanuja links it with the discipline of meditating on the Lord. The sense is that at death the outward-going mind is gathered in and turned inward.

Beyond the description, it carries a message: sense-restraint and inner concentration practised in life are indispensable capital for the end.

Context

This verse forms one sentence with 8.13. Verse 8.11 introduced the Akshara goal; here is its inner practice, and in the next verse it is completed with Om and remembrance of the Lord.

Life lesson

Do not let the senses wander outward all the time. Make it a habit to withdraw from outer noise for a few moments each day and sit quietly within; that is true preparation for the end.

Key terms

सर्वद्वार: the gates of the body, the senses
हृदय में मन का निरोध: drawing the mind inward to the heart
मूर्ध्न्याधान: raising the breath to the crown
योगधारणा: yogic concentration