Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 15

English Translation

Concentrating the mind thus for ever, the yogi of controlled mind achieves the Peace which culminates in Liberation and which abides in Me.

Detailed Commentary

।।6.15।। Explanation — 'Yogī Niyatamānasah' refers to one whose mind is controlled. A sādhaka can be 'niyatamānas' only when the sole object of his meditation is Paramātman. Beyond Paramātman, he has no connection with the world. Whenever he has a connection with the world, his mind cannot remain controlled. A common error is that the sādhaka practices Dhyāna Yoga considering himself a gṛhastha or similar, due to which the siddhi of Dhyāna Yoga is not attained quickly. The sādhaka should not consider himself belonging to any Varṇa-Āśrama such as gṛhastha, sādhu, Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, Śūdra, etc., but rather believe: 'I am only a meditator (dhyānakartā). My work is to attain Paramātman through meditation. Attaining worldly siddhis is not my objective.' When this change in ego (ahaṁtā) occurs, the mind naturally comes under control. 'Yuñjann Evaṁ Sadātmānam' — The description of Dhyāna from the tenth verse's 'yogī yuñjīta satatam' up to the fourteenth verse's 'yukta āsīta matparaḥ' comes under 'evaṁ' (thus). 'Yuñjan Ātmānam' means that the mind should be withdrawn from the world and fixed upon Paramātman. 'Sadā' (always) means that one should regularly practice Dhyāna Yoga every day. Practicing it sometimes and abandoning it at other times, the siddhi of Dhyāna Yoga is not achieved quickly in this manner. 'Śāntiṁ Nirvāṇaparāmāṁ Matsaṁsthānadhigacchati' refers to a state attained in Bhagavān, which, once attained, leaves nothing else to be attained. This is called 'Nirvāṇaparamā Śānti'. The Dhyāna Yogī attains this very peace. There is a 'Nirvikalpa Sthiti' (state free from mental constructs) and a Nirvikalpa Bodha (realization free from mental constructs). In Dhyāna Yoga, first there is Nirvikalpa Sthiti, and then Nirvikalpa Bodha. This Nirvikalpa Bodha is called 'Nirvāṇaparamā Śānti'. Peace is of two kinds — Śānti (peace) and Paramaśānti (supreme peace). 'Śānti' results from the renunciation of the world (severing connections), and 'Paramaśānti' is attained upon the realization of the Paramātma Tattva. This very Paramaśānti is known in the Gītā by names such as 'Naiṣṭhikī Śānti' (5.12), 'Śaśvata Śānti' (9.31), etc., and here it is referred to as 'Nirvāṇaparamā Śānti'. Connection: Now, in the following two verses, useful rules for Dhyāna Yoga will be described, respectively, by the method of exclusion (vyatireka) and inclusion (anvaya).