Chapter 6, Verse 20 (Bhagavad Gita 6.20)
Chapter 6: Dhyān Yog – Path of Meditation
Sanskrit Shloka
यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया। यत्र चैवात्मनाऽऽत्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति
Transliteration
yatroparamate chittaṁ niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā yatra chaivātmanātmānaṁ paśhyann ātmani tuṣhyati
Word Meanings
yatra—when; uparamate—rejoice inner joy; chittam—the mind; niruddham—restrained; yoga-sevayā—by the practice of yog; yatra—when; cha—and; eva—certainly; ātmanā—through the purified mind; ātmānam—the soul; paśhyan—behold; ātmani—in the self; tuṣhyati—is satisfied
Translation
When the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, becomes still and attains quietude, and when one beholds the Self through the pure intellect and finds contentment in the Self alone, that state is realization.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse describes the pinnacle of internal mastery where the turbulent fluctuations of the mind cease, allowing the practitioner to perceive the underlying divine essence within. By withdrawing consciousness from external dependencies and sensory cravings, the individual transcends the ego-self, finding a profound, unshakable satisfaction that requires no worldly validation. Spiritually, it teaches that true fulfillment is not an acquisition from the outside world, but a homecoming to one's own essential nature. Practically, this implies that when we silence the noise of our desires, we uncover a reservoir of peace and clarity that remains constant regardless of external circumstances.