Dhyana Yoga · Verse 18

Bhagavad Gita 6.18

Yoga begins when craving loses its grip and the mind comes home.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते ।
निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
वशमें किया हुआ चित्त जिस कालमें अपने स्वरूपमें ही स्थित हो जाता है और स्वयं सम्पूर्ण पदार्थोंसे निःस्पृह हो जाता है, उस कालमें वह योगी है ऐसा कहा जाता है ॥
English
When the controlled mind rests in the true self alone and is free from craving for all pleasures, that person is called united in yoga.

What this verse means

A person is truly steady in yoga when the mind settles into the true self and no longer chases every desire.

Context & commentary

On the battlefield, Arjuna is frozen, and Krishna is teaching the method of inner mastery. After describing balanced habits, Krishna names the real sign of yoga: a mind that has come home to the true self and no longer runs after desire.

Why this verse still matters

You finally close the laptop after midnight, but your mind keeps reaching for one more reply, one more check, one more fix. Peace begins when the chasing stops.

The takeaway

There is relief in not needing every craving to be answered.

Word-by-word translation

यदा (when) / विनियतं (well-controlled) / चित्तम् (mind) / आत्मनि (in the true self) / एव (alone) / अवतिष्ठते (rests) / निःस्पृहः (free from craving) / सर्वकामेभ्यः (from all desires) / युक्तः (united, disciplined) / इति (thus) / उच्यते (is called) / तदा (then)

Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), manas (49 verses), dhyana (31 verses)

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