Dwelling in solitude, eating lightly, and controlling speech, body, and mind, one stays absorbed in meditation, grounded in non-attachment.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 18.52
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो विशुद्ध सात्त्विकी बुद्धिसे युक्त, वैराग्यके आश्रित, एकान्तका सेवन करनेवाला और नियमित भोजन करनेवाला साधक धैर्यपूर्वक इन्द्रियोंका नियमन करके, शरीरवाणीमनको वशमें करके, शब्दादि विषयोंका त्याग करके और रागद्वेषको छोड़कर निरन्तर ध्यानयोगके परायण हो जाता है, वह अहंकार, बल, दर्प, काम, क्रोध और परिग्रहका त्याग करके एवं निर्मम तथा शान्त होकर ब्रह्मप्राप्तिका पात्र हो जाता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
विविक्तसेवीdwelling in solitudeलघ्वाशीeating lightlyयतवाक्कायमानसःone whose speech, body, and mind are restrainedध्यानयोगपरोdevoted to meditation-yogaनित्यंalwaysवैराग्यंnon-attachmentसमुपाश्रितःtaking refuge in
Read literallydwelling in solitude · eating lightly · one whose speech, body, and mind are restrained · devoted to meditation-yoga · always · non-attachment · taking refuge in
Understanding the verse
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Solitude, light food, and restraint of speech, body and mind belong to Krishna's daily discipline for meditation.
A serious seeker lives simply, keeps the senses under control, and stays devoted to meditation with non-attachment.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna is finishing his map of inner freedom for Arjuna. After describing the purified mind, he adds the daily disciplines that support it: solitude, light eating, restraint of speech, body, and mind, and steady meditation rooted in non-attachment.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
An old grandfather rises before the house wakes, eats a light breakfast, and sits alone in the puja room for an hour. Krishna's list sounds like his routine: solitude, little food, restraint, and steady meditation.
The takeaway
“A simple, uncluttered life makes steady meditation easier.”
A serious seeker lives simply, keeps the senses under control, and stays devoted to meditation with non-attachment.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.52?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Moksha Sanyasa Yoga" (Liberation through Renunciation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 18.52?
Verse 52 sits in Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga, "Liberation through Renunciation". The chapter has 78 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 18.52 matter today?
An old grandfather rises before the house wakes, eats a light breakfast, and sits alone in the puja room for an hour. Krishna's list sounds like his routine: solitude, little food, restraint, and steady meditation.
Solitude, light food, and restraint of speech, body and mind belong to Krishna's daily discipline for meditation.
What this verse means
A serious seeker lives simply, keeps the senses under control, and stays devoted to meditation with non-attachment.
Context & commentary
Krishna is finishing his map of inner freedom for Arjuna. After describing the purified mind, he adds the daily disciplines that support it: solitude, light eating, restraint of speech, body, and mind, and steady meditation rooted in non-attachment.
What it looks like today
An old grandfather rises before the house wakes, eats a light breakfast, and sits alone in the puja room for an hour. Krishna's list sounds like his routine: solitude, little food, restraint, and steady meditation.
“A simple, uncluttered life makes steady meditation easier.”
Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), dhyana yoga (13 verses)