Bhagavad-gītā 6.10
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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yuñjīta
—
must concentrate
Optative of √yuj — the same root as yoga. The act and the goal share a root: to yoke is to make yoga. The verb is reflexive: the yogī yokes himself.
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rahasi
—
in a secluded place
Locative of rahas, 'a secret, a hidden place.' Solitude is not optional in the verse's structure — it is the named locus of the practice. Sa-tatam (constantly) and rahasi together rule out part-time, public practice.
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ekākī
—
alone
Eka — one; ekākī — solitary. The doubled emphasis (rahasi + ekākī) is deliberate: alone in a lonely place. No co-meditators, no audience.
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yata-citta-ātmā
—
always careful in mind
Bahuvrīhi — 'one whose citta and ātmā are restrained.' The two often-confused inner faculties are restrained as one. The discipline reaches the depths.
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nirāśīḥ
—
without being attracted by anything else
Nir-āśīḥ — 'without expectation, without prayer for gain.' Often paired in śāstra with aparigrahaḥ. Together they mark the inner condition: no wanting in, no holding on.
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aparigrahaḥ
—
free from possessiveness
A-pari-grahaḥ — 'not grasping around oneself.' The grasping is not the having; it is the encircling claim. Kṛṣṇa is naming a state of mind, not a quantity of property.
Kṛṣṇa is realized in different degrees as Brahman, Paramātmā and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Kṛṣṇa consciousness means, concisely, to be always engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. But those who are attached to the impersonal Brahman or the localized Supersoul are also partially Kṛṣṇa conscious, because the impersonal Brahman is the spiritual ray of Kṛṣṇa and the Supersoul is the all-pervading partial expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Thus the impersonalist and the meditator are also indirectly Kṛṣṇa conscious. A directly Kṛṣṇa conscious person is the topmost transcendentalist because such a devotee knows what is meant by Brahman and Paramātmā. His knowledge of the Absolute Truth is perfect, whereas the impersonalist and the meditative yogī are imperfectly Kṛṣṇa conscious. Nevertheless, all of these are instructed herewith to be constantly engaged in their particular pursuits so that they may come to the highest perfection sooner or later. The first business of a transcendentalist is to keep the mind always on Kṛṣṇa. One should always think of Kṛṣṇa and not forget Him even for a moment. Concentration of the mind on the Supreme is called samādhi, or trance. In order to concentrate the mind, one should always remain in seclusion and avoid disturbance by external objects. He should be very careful to accept favorable and reject unfavorable conditions that affect his realization. And, in perfect determination, he should not hanker after unnecessary material things that entangle him by feelings of possessiveness. All these perfections and precautions are perfectly executed when one is directly in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, because direct Kṛṣṇa consciousness means self-abnegation, wherein there is very little chance for material possessiveness. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī characterizes Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this way: anāsaktasya viṣayān, yathārham upayuñjataḥ nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe, yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate prāpañcikatayā buddhyā hari-sambandhi-vastunaḥ mumukṣubhiḥ parityāgo vairāgyaṁ phalgu kathyate “When one is not attached to anything, but at the same time accepts everything in relation to Kṛṣṇa, one is rightly situated above possessiveness. On the other hand, one who rejects everything without knowledge of its relationship to Kṛṣṇa is not as complete in his renunciation.” ( Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.255–256) A Kṛṣṇa conscious person well knows that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa, and thus he is always free from feelings of personal possession. As such, he has no hankering for anything on his own personal account. He knows how to accept things in favor of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and how to reject things unfavorable to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He is always aloof from material things because he is always transcendental, and he is always alone, having nothing to do with persons not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the perfect yogī.
The yogī performs yoga with its aṅgas. That descriptions starts with this verse and ends with sa yogī paramo mataḥ in verse 32. He who has attained the stage of yogārūḍha, the stage of steady meditation (yogī), should remain engaging the mind (ātmānam) in samādhi (yuṣjita).
He establishes his own āsana which has kuśa on the bottom, then deer skin, and finally cloth on top. The yogī engages in meditation for purification of the inner organ or consciousness (ātma-visuddhaye). This freedom from disturbance, which makes the internal organ very subtle, is suitable for the direct realization of Brahman. The śruti says, dṛśyate tv agryayā buddhyā sukṣmayā sukṣma darśibhiḥ: paramātmā is seen by fine, concentrated intelligence by the seers of the subtle. (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.12)
Kāya refers to the middle section of the body. One should hold the middle of the body, the head and neck straight without movement. Withdrawing the mind from objects (manaḥ saṁyamya—pratyāhāra), the yogī remains thinking of Me, the beautiful form with four hands (mac-cittaḥ), absorbed in devotion to Me (mat-parāyaṇaḥ). [Note: As with jṣāna, as mentioned in BG 5.17, yoga must also include bhakti, in order to realize Paramātmā.]
In twenty-three verses the Lord now teaches the process of yoga with its aṅgas. The niṣkāma karma yogī should engage his mind (ātmānam) constantly in samādhi (yuṣjita), sitting in a place without people or disturbing sounds (rahasi sthitaḥ). Being alone, without even a second person there, he has body and mind devoid of activities unfavorable to yoga (yata citta ātmā). This is because he is devoid of desires going elsewhere, being firmly fixed in detachment (nirāśiḥ). He is devoid of any desire to accumulate (aparigrahaḥ). Bg 6.11, Bg 6.12, Bg 6.11-12 īucaE deXae Pa[iTaṣaPYa iSQarMaaSaNaMaaTMaNa" ) NaaTYauiC^\Ta& NaaiTaNaqc& cEl/aiJaNaku-XaaetarMa( )) 11 )) Ta}aEk-aGa]& MaNa" k*-Tva YaTaictaeiNd]Yai§-Ya" ) oPaivXYaaSaNae YauHJYaaÛaeGaMaaTMaivīuṬYae )) 12 )) śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ nāty-ucchritaṁ nāti-nīcaṁ cailājina-kuśottaram tatraikāgraṁ manaḥ kṛtvā yata-cittendriya-kriyaḥ upaviśyāsane yuṣjyād yogam ātma-viśuddhaye śucau—in a sanctified; deśe—land; pratiṣṭhāpya—placing; sthiram—firm; āsanam—seat; ātmanaḥ—his own; na—not; ati—too; ucchritam—high; na—nor; ati—too; nīcam—low; caila—ajina—of soft cloth and deerskin; kuśa—and kuśa grass; uttaram—covering; tatra—thereupon; eka—agram—with one attention; manaḥ—mind; kṛtvā—making; yata-citta—controlling the mind; indriya—senses; kriyaḥ—and activities; upaviśya—sitting; āsane—on the seat; yuṣjyāt—should execute; yogam-yoga practice; ātma—the heart; viśuddhaye—for clarifying.
Two verses speak of the sitting place. The yogī should establish the āsana in a naturally pure place, such as the pure bank of the Gaṅga or a mountain cave, and in a place cleaned by himself. The āsana should be stable, not moving, and not too high or too low, with kuśa grass over which (uttara) soft cloth (caila) and soft deer skin (ajina) are placed. This āsana is for ones own use only (ātmanaḥ). It is forbidden to use another person’s seat, as that is unfavorable for yoga practice due to uncertainty of another’s consent to use their seat. One should sit rather than stand or lie on that asana which has been established, since the vedānta says āsīnaḥ sambhavāt: one should sit, because then meditation is possible. (Vedānta Sūtra 4.1.7) Having restrained the activities of the mind and senses ((yata cittendriya kriyaḥ), making his mind free of disturbance (ekāgram), he should practice concentration or samādhi (yoga yuṣjan). This is for purification of the antaḥkaraṇa, since by being pure and fine, it is qualified to perceive the ātmā. The śruti says: dṛśyate tv agryayā buddhyā sūkṣmayā sūkṣma-darśibhiḥ The seers of the subtle see the ātmā by concentrated, fine intelligence. Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.12 Bg 6.13, Bg 6.14, Bg 6.13-14 SaMa& k-aYaiXaraeGa]qv& DaarYaṁcl&/ iSQar" ) SaMPa[e+Ya NaaiSak-aGa]& Sv& idXaêaNavl/aek-YaNa( )) 13 )) Pa[XaaNTaaTMaa ivGaTa>aqb]Røcairv]Tae iSQaTa" ) MaNa" Sa&YaMYa MaiṀtaae Yau¢- AaSaqTa MaTPar" )) 14 )) samaṁ kāya-śiro-grīvaṁ dhārayann acalaṁ sthiraḥ samprekṣya nāsikāgraṁ svaṁ diśaś cānavalokayan praśāntātmā vigata-bhīr brahmacāri-vrate sthitaḥ manaḥ saṁyamya mac-citto yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ samam—straight; kāya—body; śiraḥ—head; grīvam—and neck; dhārayan—holding; acalam—unmoving; sthiraḥ—still; samprekṣya—looking; nāsikā—of the nose; agram—at the tip; svam—own; diśaḥ—on all sides; ca—also; anavalokayan—not looking; praśānta—unagitated; ātmā—mind; vigata—bhīḥ—devoid of fear; brahmacāri—vrate—in the vow of celibacy; sthitaḥ—situated; manaḥ—mind; saṁyamya—completely subduing; mat—upon Me (Kṛṣṇa); cittaḥ—concentrating the mind; yuktaḥ—the actual yogi; āsīta—should sit; mat—Me; paraḥ—the ultimate goal.
These verses describe how to hold the body while sitting on the asana. Kaya refers to the middle portion of the body. The neck, torso and head are mentioned together as a unit, since they are limbs of the living entity. They should all be straight (samam). They should not shake (acalam). With determined effort (sthiraḥ), one should gaze at the tip of the nose, or between the brows, in order to prevent the mind from sleeping or wandering. One should not look here and there. One should be seated (āsīta) in this manner. The verb (āsīta) is in verse 14. The mind should be undisturbed (praśāntātmā). One should be fearless, and should maintain vows of celibacy. This yogī (yukta) should sit, withdrawing his mind from sense objects (manaḥ saṁyamya), thinking of My beautiful form with four arms (mac cittaḥ), having Me alone as the goal (mat paraḥ).
"Alone" means "not even with his disciples". No one can see why he should be in such an advanced stage to actually take up this kind of yoga. Next it will be explained how to sit and focus one's mind to get power.
[ 2 . Where to sit while practicing: the yogi should live and practice alone in a secluded, sacred place. He should control his senses and fix his mind on one point. (11‑12). ]
One must be free of “possesiveness” and “material desires” to practice astanga yoga, in a secluded
place where he can control mind by fixing on Supersoul
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SECTION III
Yoga practice, like any other science, entails that
one follow a process that bears result if applied correctly
(a) Mundane scholarship is not enough
(b) How to realize book knowledge – By rendering transcendental devotional service to the Lord
(c) Bhagavad-gita is the science of Krishna “consciousness”
(d) A Krishna conscious person is a realized soul – He is:
(e) Need to associate with Krishna Conscious persons is emphasized
PLEASE NOTE: Points of the purports of Texts 6.10 – 6.17 which specifically distinguishes astanga-yoga and bhakti-
yoga are extracted from the individual focus of learning boxes and discussed in a table form after Text 6.17
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.10 & 6.11:
Krishna next describes the basic practices of astanga-yoga
6.10 योगी the Yogi? युञ्जीत let him keep the mind steady? सततम् constantly? आत्मानम् self? रहसि in solitude? स्थितः remaining? एकाकी alone? यतचित्तात्मा one with the mind and the body controlled? निराशीः free from hope? अपरिग्रहः noncovetousness.Commentary The Yogi who treads the path of renunciation (NivrittiMarga) can practise meditation in a solitary cave in the mountains. He should renounce all possessions.A householder with Yogic tendencies and spiritual inclination? can practise meditation in a solitary and iet room in his own house or any solitary place on the banks of any holy river (during the holidays or throughout the year if he is a wholetime aspirant or if he has retired from service).The practice must be constant. Only then can one attain Selfrealisation surely and ickly. He who practises meditation by fits and starts and for a few minutes daily will not be able to achieve any tangible results in Yoga. The Yogic aspirant should be free from hope? desire and greed. Only then will he have a steady mind. Hope? desire and greed make the mind ever restless and turbulent. They are the enemies of peace and Selfknowledge. The aspirant should not have many possessions either. He can only keep those articles which are absolutely necessary for the maintenance of his body. If there are many possessions? the mind will be ever thinking of them and attempting to protect them.It you are well established in the practice of Pratyahara? Sama and Dama (withdrawal of the senses? control of mind and the body respectively)? if you have the senses under your full control? you can find perfect solitude and peace even in the most crowded and noisy place of a big city. If the senses are turbulent? if you have not got the power to withdraw them? you will have no peace of mind even in a solitary cave of the Himalayas. A disciplined Yogi who has controlled the senses and the mind can enjoy peace of mind in a solitary cave. A passionate man who has not controlled the senses and the mind will only be building castles in the air if he lives in a solitary cave in a mountain.He who has reduced his wants? who has not a bit of attraction for the world? who has,discrimination and burning aspiration for liberation? and who has observed Mauna (the vow of silence) for months together will be able to live in a cave.You should have perfect control over the body through the regular practice of Yoga Asanas before you take to serious and constant meditation.Aparigraha means noncovetousness? freedom from possessions.The spiritual aspirant need not bother himself about his bodily needs. Everything is provided by God. Everything is prearranged by Mother Nature. She looks after the bodily needs of all very carefully in a more efficient manner than they themselves would do. She knows beter what the reirements are and provides them then and there. Understand the mysterious ways of Mother Nature and become wise. Be grateful to Her for Her unie kindness? grace and mercy.If you want to retire into solitue for the practice of meditation? and if you are a householder with a thirst for intense spiritual Sadhana? you cannot all of a sudden sever your connection with your family. Sudden severance of worldly ties may produce intense mental agony in you and shock in them. You will have to break the ties gradually. Stay for a week or a month in seclusion to begin with. Then gradually prolong the period. They will not feel the pangs of separation from you.As your will has become very weak? as you had no religious discipline or training in schools and colleges when you were young? and as you are under the sway of materialistic influences? it is necessary for you to go in for seclusion for some days or weeks (during the Chritstmas? Easter or other holidays) to practise rigorous Japa and meditation and to develop your willpower.Those who have fixed up their sons in life and who have retired from service? and who have discharged their duties as householders can remain in seclusion for four or five years and practise intense meditation and Tapas (penance) for selfpurification and Selfrealisation. This is like entering a university for higher studies or postgraduate course of study. When the Tapas is over? and when they have attained to Selfknowledge? they should come out and share their knowledge of the Self with others through lectures? conversations? discourses or hearttoheart talks according to their capacity and disposition.How can sensecontrol be tested in a lonely forest where there are no temptations The Yogic student living in a cave should test himself after he has sufficiently advanced? by coming into the society of people. But he should not test himself every now and then like the man who removed the young plant daily after watering it to see whether it had struck deep root or not.
- BG 06 10-14 - Radhika Vallabh Prabhu - ISKCON Chowpatty 2009-06-20
- BG 06 10 - Ananta Rupa Pr - ISKCON Radhadesh 2012-05-08
- BG 06 10 - Bhakti Vikas Swami - Rajapur West Bengal 2014-02 01
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- Priya Valabha Mataji BG 06-10 Hindi
- UM BG 06-10 - Aparigrahah Not grasping what is not ours - 2015-03-22 Laguna Beach
- BJP BG 06-10-32
- Gaura Pr BG 06-10 Telugu - 2013-07-14
- Gauranga Darshan Pr BG 06-10-23 - Stages of Ashtanga-yoga
- Hari Lila Pr BG 06-10 Part-01 Tamil
- Hari Lila Pr BG 06-10 Part-02 Tamil
- Kartikeya Pr BG 06-10
- Madhavananda Pr BG 06-10 - 2016-09-03 ISKCON Vrindavan
- Radhe Shyam Pr BG 06-10
- Rasika Govinda Pr BG 06-10 - Incarnation of Rsabhadev - 2017-05-11
- Rasika Govinda Pr BG 06-10 Tamil - Incarnation of Rsabhadev - 2017-05-11
- SNP BG 06-10 Hindi - Part-02
- SNP BG 06-10 Hindi - Part-01
- Shubha Krishna Pr BG 06-10 Hindi
- SKrishnaPr BG 06-10 - 2012-10-18
- Sundar Nimai Pr BG 06-10-32 Telugu - Dhyana Yoga Part-02 - 2020-05-03 ISKCON Habibpur
- BCaitanyaS BG 06-10 Russian Translation - 1998-11-29 St.Petersburg
- BCaitanyaS BG 06-10 Russian Translation - 1998 St.Petersburg
- Bhakti Vikas Sw BG 06-10 - Yukta Vairagya is not an Excuse - 2014-02-01
- Haladhar Sw BG 06-10 Oriya - Bhaktira Anukula O Pratikula Bhava - 2024-06-30
- PrahladAnS BG 06-10 Slovenian Translation - Snik snik ram ram - 2020-04-26 ISKCON Slovenia
- RSP BG 06-10
- Build solitude (alone time) into your week — without phone or chatter.
- Use that time for remembrance, not entertainment.
- Reduce possessiveness one item at a time.
- When was my last genuine alone-with-Kṛṣṇa time?
- What possessiveness has been quietly increasing?
A flame brought indoors out of the wind grows tall and steady. The yogī's solitude is that doorway — not an escape from the world, but a shelter where the flame of remembrance can stand still long enough to throw real light. Without the rahasi, the same flame flickers and consumes itself in worry.
Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the nāmācārya, lived alone in a small cave-like hut and daily chanted three hundred thousand names of Kṛṣṇa. He owned nothing, kept no servants, took only what was offered, and turned away even the great wealth that was sometimes brought to him.
Nirāśīḥ aparigrahaḥ in pure form — desireless, without possessions — yet the body, mind, and self were satatam engaged in the Lord's name. Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself called him the very meaning of this verse, the model rahasi-sthitaḥ ekākī of the age of Kali.
My note
Source: vedabase.io