FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 6.24

స నిశ్చయేన యోక్తవ్యో యోగోఽనిర్విణ్ణచేతసా । సఙ్కల్పప్రభవాన్కామాంస్త్యక్త్వా సర్వానశేషత: । మనసైవేన్ద్రియగ్రామం వినియమ్య సమన్తత: ॥ ౨౪ ॥
sa niścayena yoktavyo
[sa nishchayena yoktavyo]
yogo ’nirviṇṇa-cetasā
[yogo ’nirvinna-chetasaa]
saṅkalpa-prabhavān kāmāṁs
[sankalpa-prabhavaan kaamaams]
tyaktvā sarvān aśeṣataḥ
[tyaktvaa sarvaan asheshatah]
manasaivendriya-grāmaṁ
[manasaivendriya-graamam]
viniyamya samantataḥ
[viniyamya samantatah]
Word-for-word
saḥ — that niścayena — with firm determination yoktavyaḥ — must be practiced yogaḥ — yoga system anirviṇṇa - cetasā — without deviation saṅkalpa — mental speculations prabhavān — born of kāmān — material desires tyaktvā — giving up sarvān — all aśeṣataḥ — completely manasā — by the mind eva — certainly indriya - grāmam — the full set of senses viniyamya — regulating samantataḥ — from all sides .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa niścayena yoktavyo
saḥ
that
niścayena
with firm determination
yoktavyaḥ
must be practiced
yogaḥ
yoga system
yogo ’nirviṇṇa-cetasā
saṅkalpa-prabhavān kāmāṁs
anirviṇṇa - cetasā
without deviation
tyaktvā sarvān aśeṣataḥ
saṅkalpa
mental speculations
prabhavān
born of
kāmān
material desires
tyaktvā
giving up
sarvān
all
manasaivendriya-grāmaṁ
aśeṣataḥ
completely
manasā
by the mind
eva
certainly
viniyamya samantataḥ
indriya - grāmam
the full set of senses
viniyamya
regulating
samantataḥ
from all sides .
Important Words
  • niścayena — with firm determination
    Niś-caya — 'thorough decision.' From the same root as Arjuna's later niścala-tattva in 18.73. Determination is not a feeling at the start; it is a fixity that survives the middle.
  • anirviṇṇa-cetasā — without deviation
    An-irviṇṇa — 'not depressed, not disheartened.' The yogī's heart does not sag mid-journey. The compound names the long, dull stretch of practice and rules out giving up in it.
  • saṅkalpa-prabhavān — born of mental speculation
    Saṅkalpa from verse 2 returns. Kāmas are not random — they are the offspring of saṅkalpa. Cut the parent and the children die. The verse names the genealogy of desire.
  • aśeṣataḥ — completely
    A-śeṣataḥ — 'without remainder.' No reserve cache of desires kept in the back. The verse insists on totality — partial renunciation breeds the rest back at night.
  • indriya-grāmam — the full set of senses
    Grāma — 'village, multitude.' The senses are pictured as a village — many residents under one administration. The yogī is the village headman who must regulate them all.
  • samantataḥ — from all sides
    Sam-antataḥ — 'from every quarter.' The senses approach from every direction; the regulation must too. No front of the village left undefended.
One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with determination and faith and not be deviated from the path. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of mental speculation and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind.
Purport

The yoga practitioner should be determined and should patiently prosecute the practice without deviation. One should be sure of success at the end and pursue this course with great perseverance, not becoming discouraged if there is any delay in the attainment of success. Success is sure for the rigid practitioner. Regarding bhakti-yoga, Rūpa Gosvāmī says: utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt saṅga-tyāgāt sato vṛtteḥ ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati “One can execute the process of bhakti-yoga successfully with full-hearted enthusiasm, perseverance and determination, by following the prescribed duties in the association of devotees and by engaging completely in activities of goodness.” ( Upadeśāmṛta 3) As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean, but the big ocean carried away the eggs on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal. So the sparrow decided to dry up the ocean. She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuḍa, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, heard it. He became compassionate toward his small sister bird, and so he came to see the sparrow. Garuḍa was very pleased by the determination of the small sparrow, and he promised to help. Thus Garuḍa at once asked the ocean to return her eggs lest he himself take up the work of the sparrow. The ocean was frightened at this, and returned the eggs. Thus the sparrow became happy by the grace of Garuḍa. Similarly, the practice of yoga, especially bhakti-yoga in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, may appear to be a very difficult job. But if anyone follows the principles with great determination, the Lord will surely help, for God helps those who help themselves.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
24-25. Giving up completely all desires born of thoughts, controlling all the senses completely by the mind, gradually one should cease all mental functions by determined intelligence. Having fixing the mind on the self, one should then not think of anything material at all.
Commentary

In such practice of yoga, the first and last actions are mentioned in two verses (24-25). The first action is to give up desires and the last action is not to think of anything at all.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
24-25. Giving up completely all sense objects as well as impressions arising from desire, controlling all the senses completely by the mind by concentrated intelligence, having the mind meditate on ātmā, gradually one should remain in samādhī. One should then not think of anything at all except ātmā.
Commentary

In this 24 the preliminary activities in the initial stage of yoga are described. The final actions are described in verse 25. Having given up all sense objects (sarvān kāmān) which are born from decision to enjoy certain objects, which are contrary to yoga, along with their vāsanās (aśeṣataḥ), completely controlling all the senses by the mind which sees the fault of the sense objects, gradually, step by step, by practice, not suddenly, by the fully concentrated (dhṛti gṛhītayā) intelligence (buddhyā) (dhāraṇa), having the mind meditate on the ātmā (ātma saṁstham manaḥ kṛtvā) (dhyāna), he should remain in samādhi (uparamet). He does not think of anything except the ātmā.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

The result of yoga is described in Text 20 through 23. And Texts 24 and 25, describe how these results are obtained. The first principles are: determination and faith. Without faith there is no possibility of determination. If one doesn't have faith, don't trust in the process, how will he be determined? That faith is "if I follow this process I will attain success!" Then one can be determined. The example of the sparrow who lost her legs in the waves of the ocean illustrates nicely the example of 'determination'. Srila Prabhupada tells this story in his Purport: "As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean, but the big ocean carried away the eggs on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal. So the sparrow decided to dry up the ocean. She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuda, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Visnu, heard it. He became compassionate toward his small sister bird, and so he came to see the sparrow. Garuda was very pleased by the determination of the small sparrow, and he promised to Thus Garuda at once asked the ocean to return her eggs lest he himself take up the work of the sparrow. The ocean was frightened at this, and returned the eggs. Thus the sparrow became happy by the grace of Garuda." Similarly, the practice of yoga, especially bhakti‑yoga in Krsna consciousness, may appear to be a very difficult job. But if anyone follows the principles with great determination, the Lord will surely help, for God helps those who help them selves."

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: Methods to attain yogarudha stage (Perfectional stage as described in Texts 6.18 – 6.23)

1. Patience (6.24)

2. Determination – Examples: Sparrow and Garuda (6.24)

3. Without deviation (6.24)

4. Faith – Be confident and pursue the path with great perseverance (6.24)

5. Control senses by mind (6.24)

6. Give up all material desires born of mental concoction (6.24)

7. Intelligence sustained by full conviction (6.25)

8. Mind fixed in oneself / not thinking anything else. (6.25)

9. Step by step one achieves success (6.25)

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.24 & 6.25: We cannot succeed without blessings. Still, we have to show our

sincerity by making a determined effort, as mentioned in 6.25.

Focus of Learning

(g) Two kinds of Samadhi as a part of Astanga-yoga

Samprajnata-samadhi – It means to become situated in the transcendental position by various philosophical researches
Asamprajnata-samadhi – In this, there is no longer any connection with mundane pleasure, for one is then transcendental to all sorts of happiness derived from the senses

(h) Yogi once situated in the position transcendental, to all mundane pleasures, is never shaken

from it

Without reaching this position yoga is unsuccessful
Therefore today’s so called yoga practice which involves various sense pleasures is contradictory e.g. Yogi indulging in sex and intoxication
Even yogis attracted to siddhis are not perfect
Yogis attracted by any of the by-products of yoga, cannot attain the stage of perfection

(i) Krishna Consciousness as the best yoga – in terms of realizations

One gets full happiness in his occupation and does not aspire after any other happiness
One makes best use of the bad bargain – Because he meets bodily demands without arousing sensual pleasures
Unshaken and fixed up – One is callous to incidental occurrences (Ref. Bg. 2.14)
Material upheavals do not affect his duties ▪

He is always alert to his Krishna conscious duties

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.25 & 6.26:

The means of success is next described.

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
6.24 See Commentary under 6.25
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
6.24 - 6.25 There are two kinds of desires: 1) those born of contact between the senses and objects like heat, cold etc.; 2) those generated by our mind (will) like that for sons, land etc. Of these, the latter type of desires are by their own nature relinishable. Relinishing all these by the mind through contemplation on their lack of association with the self; having relinished the ideas of pleasure and pain in respect of unavoidable desires resulting from contract; restraining all the senses on all sides, i.e., from contact with all their objects - one should think of nothing else, i.e., other than the self. Little by little 'with the help of intellect controlled by firm resolution,' i.e., by the power of discrimination, one should think of nothing else, having fixed the mind on the self.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
6.24 See Comment under 6.25
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
6.24 Abandoning without reserve all desires born of Sankalpa (thought and imagination) and completely restraining the whole group of the senses by the mind from all sides.
Commentary

6.24 सङ्कल्पप्रभवान् born of Sankalpa (imagination)? कामान् desires? त्यक्त्वा having abandoned? सर्वान् all? अशेषतः without reserve? मनसा by the mind? एव even? इन्द्रियग्रामम् the whole group of senses? विनियम्य completely restraining? समन्ततः from all sides.Commentary Without reserve The mind is so diplomatic that it keeps certain desires for its secret gratification. Therefore you should completely abandon all desires without reservation.Desire is born of imagination (Sankalpa). Therefore destroy the Sankalpa first. If the imagination is annihilated first then the desires will die by themselves. Mark here All the senses must be controlled from all sides by the mind. Even if one sense is turbulent in one direction it will distract the mind often and often. The senses will be absorbed in the mind by the constant practice of abstraction (Pratyahara). Then the mind will not think of the objects of sensepleasure and will become perfectly calm.That mind which is endowed with a strong discrimination and dispassion will be able to control the whole ground (or group) of the senses from their objects in all directions. Therefore cultivate strong Viveka or discrimination between the Real and the unreal and also Vairagya or total dispassion for sensual pleasures. (Cf.II.62)

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
6.24 By totally eschewing all desires which arise from thoughts, and restraining with the mind itself all the organs from every side;
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
6.24 Renouncing every desire which imagination can conceive, controlling the senses at every point by the power of mind;
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Arjava (Simplicity / Straightforwardness)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)
Related verses
BG 6.23 BG 9.14 BG 18.33 SB 11.14.28 SB 11.20.17 SB 5.5.1 CC Madhya 22.128 CC Madhya 22.78 CC Madhya 19.152 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.14BRS 1.2.91
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Engage in yoga with determination and faith, not deviating from the path — with patience and full conviction.
Practical Applications
  • Cultivate dṛḍha (firm) determination over fluctuating enthusiasm.
  • Practice patience as itself a yogic virtue.
  • Conviction grows through practice, not through preaching to oneself.
Reflection Questions
  • Where has my determination wobbled?
  • What strengthens my conviction in lived practice?
Analogy

A pilgrim walking to a distant tīrtha does not turn back at the first thorn in the road, nor at the first beautiful side-village. Dṛḍha determination is his walking stick; aniricitta his eye fixed on the destination. Without both, the road becomes wandering, and wandering does not arrive.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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