पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः ।
जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते ॥
जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते ॥
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 ॥
English
Even against his will, he is drawn onward by that earlier practice. Even the seeker of yoga goes beyond the sound of ritual 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.
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.
The takeaway
Your deepest practice keeps working even when willpower fades.
Word-by-word translation
पूर्वाभ्यासेन (by earlier practice) / तेन (by that) / एव (indeed) / ह्रियते (is drawn away) / हि (certainly) / अवशः (against his will) / अपि (even) / सः (he) । / जिज्ञासुः (seeker) / अपि (even) / योगस्य (of yoga) / शब्दब्रह्म (sound-Brahman / ritual words) / अति-वर्तते (goes beyond) ॥
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)