Shloka 18
अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः | Akṣara-Brahma-Yoga
The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman
यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते । निःस्पृह: सर्वकामे भ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा
yadā viniyataṁ cittam ātmany evāvatiṣṭhate | niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ity ucyate tadā ||
जब भलीभाँति वश में किया हुआ चित्त आत्मा में ही स्थिर हो जाता है और मनुष्य समस्त कामनाओं से निःस्पृह हो जाता है, तब वह योगयुक्त कहा जाता है।
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person is truly established in Yoga when the disciplined mind rests steadily in the Self and craving for all sense-objects and enjoyments has fallen away; inner stability and desirelessness are the marks of yogic integration.
Arjuna is asking about the defining signs of one who is firmly established in Yoga; this verse states the criterion in terms of mental restraint, inward abiding in the Self, and freedom from desire.