नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः ।
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे अर्जुन यह योग न तो अधिक खानेवालेका और न बिलकुल न खानेवालेका तथा न अधिक सोनेवालेका और न बिलकुल न सोनेवालेका ही सिद्ध होता है ॥
English
Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who eats nothing at all. It is not for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who stays awake too long, Arjuna.
What this verse means
Meditation does not work with extremes. Too much food, no food, too much sleep, or no sleep all disturb the practice.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is being taught how to train the mind for meditation. Krishna says the practice fails if life swings into extremes of indulgence or deprivation, because the body and mind must be kept in balance.
Why this verse still matters
You skip meals, then overeat at night. You sleep badly, then try to meditate anyway. The mind cannot settle when the body is being pushed into extremes.
The takeaway
Steady practice needs a steady body and a steady routine.
Word-by-word translation
न अति-अश्नतः (for one who eats too much) / तु (indeed) / योगः (yoga) / अस्ति (is) / न (not) / च (and) / एकान्तम् (entirely) / अनश्नतः (for one who does not eat) / न (not) / च (and) / अति-स्वप्न-शीलस्य (for one who sleeps too much) / जाग्रतः (for one who stays awake) / न (not) / एव (indeed) / च (and) / अर्जुन (Arjuna)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga — The Yoga of Meditation, which contains 47 verses.
Explore related themes: dhyana (31 verses), discipline (14 verses)