Even against his will, he is drawn onward by that earlier practice. Even the seeker of yoga goes beyond the sound of ritual words.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 6.44
Hindi · हिन्दी
वह श्रीमानोंके घरमें जन्म लेनेवाला योगभ्रष्ट मनुष्य भोगोंके परवश होता हुआ भी पूर्वजन्ममें किये हुए अभ्याससाधन के कारण ही परमात्माकी तरफ खिंच जाता है क्योंकि योगसमता का जिज्ञासु भी वेदोंमें कहे हुए सकाम कर्मोंका अतिक्रमण कर जाता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
पूर्वाभ्यासेनby earlier practiceतेनby thatएवindeedह्रियतेis drawn awayहिcertainlyअवशःagainst his willअपिevenजिज्ञासुःseekerअपिevenयोगस्यof yoga
Read literallyby earlier practice · by that · indeed · is drawn away · certainly · against his will · even · seeker · even · of yoga
Understanding the verse
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It reframes spiritual effort as cumulative: even broken practice keeps carrying you forward.
Built onYogaAbhyasaShabdabrahma
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In plain words
What this verse means
Past practice pulls a person toward yoga even when the person is not fully in control. A sincere seeker also rises beyond ritual words and outer religious forms.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield at Kurukshetra, Arjuna is being taught why no sincere effort is ever wasted. Krishna explains that past practice keeps drawing a fallen yogi back, and even the mere seeker of yoga moves beyond ritual-minded action.
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In your life
Why this verse still matters
You open your meditation app after weeks of skipping it, and something in you still remembers the way. That quiet pull is not random — practice leaves a trail.
The takeaway
“Your deepest practice keeps working even when willpower fades.”
Past practice pulls a person toward yoga even when the person is not fully in control. A sincere seeker also rises beyond ritual words and outer religious forms.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 6.44?
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 6.44?
Verse 44 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 6.44 matter today?
You open your meditation app after weeks of skipping it, and something in you still remembers the way. That quiet pull is not random — practice leaves a trail.
It reframes spiritual effort as cumulative: even broken practice keeps carrying you forward.
What this verse means
Past practice pulls a person toward yoga even when the person is not fully in control. A sincere seeker also rises beyond ritual words and outer religious forms.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield at Kurukshetra, Arjuna is being taught why no sincere effort is ever wasted. Krishna explains that past practice keeps drawing a fallen yogi back, and even the mere seeker of yoga moves beyond ritual-minded action.
Why this verse still matters
You open your meditation app after weeks of skipping it, and something in you still remembers the way. That quiet pull is not random — practice leaves a trail.
“Your deepest practice keeps working even when willpower fades.”
Explore related themes: dhyana (31 verses)