शनैः शनैरुपरमेद् बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया ।
आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥
आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
धैर्ययुक्त बुद्धिके द्वारा संसारसे धीरेधीरे उपराम हो जाय और परमात्मस्वरूपमें मनबुद्धि को सम्यक् प्रकारसे स्थापन करके फिर कुछ भी चिन्तन न करे ॥
English
Little by little, the mind should be quieted by steady discernment. Fix the mind in the true self and think of nothing else.
What this verse means
The mind should be calmed gradually with firm understanding. Once it rests in the true self, it should stop chasing thoughts.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna needs more than advice about battle — he needs a mind that can hold still. Krishna now gives the method: steady the mind gradually, place it in the true self, and stop feeding it new thoughts.
Why this verse still matters
You sit in a parked car after a hard conversation, replaying every sentence. The answer is not to wrestle the mind harder, but to bring it back, gently, until the loop loosens.
The takeaway
Progress can be gentle. You do not have to win against the mind in one struggle.
Word-by-word translation
शनैः शनैः (little by little) / उपरमेत् (should become quiet) / बुद्ध्या (by the discerning mind) / धृतिगृहीतया (held by firmness) / आत्मसंस्थम् (established in the true self) / मनः (the mind) / कृत्वा (having made) / न (not) / किञ्चित् अपि (anything at all) / चिन्तयेत् (should think)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga — The Yoga of Meditation, which contains 47 verses.
Explore related themes: manas (49 verses), dhyana (31 verses), buddhi (26 verses)