Chapter Overview
This chapter contains the Gita's most detailed instructions on meditation practice. Krishna describes the proper seat, posture, and mental technique. He addresses Arjuna's concern about the difficulty of controlling the restless mind, and provides profound teachings on the yogi who fails to complete the path.
The chapter also contains one of the Gita's most important declarations: "The yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater than the scholar, greater than the ritualist. Therefore, O Arjuna, be a yogi!" (6.46)
Key Themes
- Self as Friend or Enemy: You are your own best friend or worst enemy, depending on whether you've conquered the mind
- Meditation Practice: Detailed instructions on posture, place, and technique
- Controlling the Mind: The challenge is acknowledged; practice and detachment are the solution
- The Fallen Yogi: No sincere effort is ever lost; progress continues in future lives
- Supreme Yoga: The yogi who sees the Self in all and all in the Self attains the highest
Key Verses to Study
uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet
"Let a man lift himself by himself; let him not degrade himself; for the Self alone is the friend of the self, and the Self alone is the enemy of the self."
A profound teaching on self-responsibility. The lower self (mind) can elevate or degrade; the higher Self is the witness and guide.
bandhur atmatmanas tasya yenatmaivatmana jitah
"For one who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, the mind remains the greatest enemy."
The unconquered mind generates endless problems; the conquered mind becomes a powerful ally.
shuchau deshe pratishthapya sthiram asanam atmanah
"In a clean spot, having established a firm seat of one's own, neither too high nor too low, made of a cloth, a skin, and kusha grass... there, making the mind one-pointed, with the actions of the mind and senses controlled, let him, seated on the seat, practice yoga for the purification of the self."
Krishna's practical meditation instructions: the place, the seat, the posture, the technique.
chanchalam hi manah krishna pramathi balavad dridham
"The mind verily is restless, turbulent, strong, and unyielding, O Krishna; I consider it as difficult to control as the wind." Krishna replied: "Undoubtedly, O mighty-armed Arjuna, the mind is restless and difficult to control; but by practice and detachment, it can be controlled."
Arjuna's honest question and Krishna's practical answer: abhyasa (practice) and vairagya (detachment).
partha naiveha namutra vinashas tasya vidyate
"O son of Pritha, a transcendentalist engaged in auspicious activities does not meet with destruction either in this world or in the spiritual world; one who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil."
Krishna's assurance: no spiritual effort is ever wasted. Even incomplete practice bears fruit in future lives.
tapasvibhyo 'dhiko yogi jnanibhyo 'pi mato 'dhikah
"The yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist, and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogi."
Krishna's direct recommendation: above all other paths, be a yogi - one who unites with the Divine.
yoginam api sarvesham mad-gatenantar-atmana
"And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me - he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all."
The chapter's culmination: the highest yogi is one devoted to Krishna with love and faith.
The Fallen Yogi (6.37-45)
Arjuna raises a crucial concern: What happens to the yogi who fails to complete the path? Does that person lose everything, like a cloud scattered by the wind?
Krishna's reassuring answer:
- No destruction (6.40): One who does good is never overcome by evil
- Higher worlds first (6.41): The fallen yogi enjoys heavenly realms, then takes birth in a virtuous or wealthy family
- Or born to yogis (6.42): Even better - takes birth in a family of wise yogis (rare and precious)
- Prior knowledge revives (6.43): The wisdom from past lives is regained
- Carried forward (6.44): Previous practice propels further progress, even unconsciously
- Perfection over many births (6.45): After many births, the yogi attains the supreme goal
Karma Kanda Complete!
Congratulations! With Chapter 6, you have completed the first major section of the Bhagavad Gita - the Karma Kanda (Chapters 1-6). This section has covered:
- Arjuna's crisis and surrender (Chapter 1)
- The philosophy of the eternal soul and karma yoga (Chapter 2)
- The science of selfless action and sacrifice (Chapter 3)
- Divine incarnation and the fire of knowledge (Chapter 4)
- Renunciation and inner peace (Chapter 5)
- Meditation and mind control (Chapter 6)
The next section (Chapters 7-12) is the Upasana Kanda - focused on devotion and the nature of the Divine. Ready to continue?