Yoga that destroys suffering comes from balanced eating, balanced activity, balanced work, and balanced sleep and waking.
— Krishna
❋
Bhagavad Gita · 6.17
Hindi · हिन्दी
दुःखोंका नाश करनेवाला योग तो यथायोग्य आहार और विहार करनेवालेका, कर्मोंमें यथायोग्य चेष्टा करनेवालेका तथा यथायोग्य सोने और जागनेवालेका ही सिद्ध होता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
युक्ताहारविहारस्यof one with balanced eating and movementयुक्तचेष्टस्यof one with balanced effortकर्मसुin actionsयुक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्यof one with balanced sleep and wakingयोगःyogaभवतिbecomesदुःखहाdestroyer of suffering
Read literallyof one with balanced eating and movement · of one with balanced effort · in actions · of one with balanced sleep and waking · yoga · becomes · destroyer of suffering
Understanding the verse
✦
Measured food, measured effort, measured sleep and waking: from these, yoga that ends sorrow becomes possible.
Built onYoga
01
In plain words
What this verse means
A steady practice works when daily life is balanced: eating, moving, working, sleeping, and waking all in proper measure.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna says meditation holds when the body and daily routine are kept moderate, and the practice becomes possible when life itself is kept in balance.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You start night duty at a call centre and soon live on tea, skipped meals and four hours of sleep. Krishna would ask you to fix the eating and sleeping first, since practice cannot hold on a lopsided routine.
The takeaway
“Inner steadiness starts with ordinary habits, not with forcing the mind.”
A steady practice works when daily life is balanced: eating, moving, working, sleeping, and waking all in proper measure.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 6.17?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Dhyana Yoga" (The Yoga of Meditation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 6.17?
Verse 17 sits in Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita — Dhyana Yoga, "The Yoga of Meditation". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 6.17 matter today?
You start night duty at a call centre and soon live on tea, skipped meals and four hours of sleep. Krishna would ask you to fix the eating and sleeping first, since practice cannot hold on a lopsided routine.
Measured food, measured effort, measured sleep and waking: from these, yoga that ends sorrow becomes possible.
What this verse means
A steady practice works when daily life is balanced: eating, moving, working, sleeping, and waking all in proper measure.
Context & commentary
Krishna says meditation holds when the body and daily routine are kept moderate, and the practice becomes possible when life itself is kept in balance.
What it looks like today
You start night duty at a call centre and soon live on tea, skipped meals and four hours of sleep. Krishna would ask you to fix the eating and sleeping first, since practice cannot hold on a lopsided routine.
“Inner steadiness starts with ordinary habits, not with forcing the mind.”
Explore related themes: dhyana (31 verses)