Bhagavad Gita 6.16नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः।न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥
nātyaśhnatastu yogo ’sti na chaikāntam
anaśhnataḥ na chāti-svapna-śhīlasya jāgrato naiva chārjuna
Sanskrit recitation
Practice sitting with the mind · 6.10–6.28 · Teaching
Translation
Verily, Yoga is not possible for him who eats too much, nor for him who does not eat at all, nor for him who sleeps too much, nor for him who is always awake, O Arjuna.
Hindi translation
हे अर्जुन ! यह योग न तो अधिक खानेवालेका और न बिलकुल न खानेवालेका तथा न अधिक सोनेवालेका और न बिलकुल न सोनेवालेका ही सिद्ध होता है।
Meaning
In this verse the Lord prescribes the diet for the students of Yoga. You must observe moderation in eating and sleeping. If you eat too much you will feel drowsy, and sleep will overpower you. You will get indigestion, flatulence, diseases of the bowels and the liver. If you eat too little you will get weakness and you will not be able to sit for a long time in meditation. You should eat neither more nor less than what is actually necessary for maintaining the body in a healthy and strong state.It may mean also that success in Yoga is not possible for him who eats more than the antity prescribed in the text books on Yoga. They prescribe Half the stomach must be filled with food a quarter with water and the remaining fourth must be empty for the free movement of air. This is the Mitahara or moderate diest for a student of Yoga.If you sleep too much you will become lethargic. The mind will be dull and the body will be heavy. You cannot meditate. If you sleep too little you will experience drowsiness. You will sleep during meditation. Keep the golden medium. You will have rapid progress in Yoga.
After Swami Sivananda
Practice sitting with the mind· 6.10–6.28→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 6.10Let the yogi constantly strive to keep the mind steady, remaining in solitude, alone, with…
- 6.11In a clean spot, having established a firm seat of his own, neither too high nor too low,…
- 6.12There, having made the mind one-pointed, with the actions of the mind and senses…
- 6.13Let him firmly hold his body, head, and neck erect and still, gazing at the tip of his…
- 6.14Serene-minded, fearless, firm in the vow of a Brahmachari, having controlled their mind,…
- 6.15Thus, always keeping the mind balanced, the yogi, with the mind controlled, attains the…
6.16Verily, Yoga is not possible for him who eats too much, nor for him who does not eat at…
- 6.17Yoga becomes the destroyer of pain for him who is moderate in eating and recreation (such…
- 6.18When the perfectly controlled mind rests in the Self alone, free from longing for any of…
- 6.19As a lamp placed in a windless spot does not flicker, so is the Yogi of a controlled mind,…
- 6.20When the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, attains quietude, and when one sees the…
- 6.21When he (the Yogi) feels that infinite bliss which can be grasped by the pure intellect…
- 6.22Having obtained it, he thinks there is no other gain superior to it; established in it, he…
- 6.23Let this be known by the name of Yoga, the severance from union with pain. This Yoga…
- 6.24Abandoning unreservedly all desires born of Sankalpa (thought and imagination) and…
- 6.25Little by little, let him attain steadiness of the intellect by holding it firmly; having…
- 6.26From whatever cause the restless and unsteady mind wanders away, let him restrain it from…
- 6.27Supreme Bliss indeed comes to this Yogi whose mind is made peaceful, whose passion is…
- 6.28The yogi, always engaging the mind thus (in the practice of yoga), is freed from sins and…
Word-by-word→
- na
- not
- tu
- however
- ati
- too much
- cha
- and
- eva
- certainly
- asti
- there is
- arjuna
- Arjun
- yogaḥ
- Yog
- ekāntam
- at all
- aśhnataḥ
- of one who eats
- jāgrataḥ
- of one who does not sleep enough
- anaśhnataḥ
- abstaining from eating
- svapna-śhīlasya
- of one who sleeps
Read this when you feel
Related verses
- 12.16He who is free from wants, pure, expert, unconcerned, and free from pain, renouncing all…
- 18.42Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, and uprightness, as well as…
- 17.6Know thou these to be of demonical resolves, senselessly torturing all the elements in the…
- 6.34The mind is indeed restless, turbulent, strong, and unyielding, O Krishna; I consider it…