Shloka 12

Dhyana Yoga — Atma Samyama Yoga

Devanagari script

तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः । उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये ॥ ६.१२ ॥

Transliteration

tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā yata-cittendriya-kriyaḥ | upaviśyāsane yuñjyād yogam ātma-viśuddhaye || 6.12 ||

Translation

तेथे आसनावर बसून, मन एकाग्र करून, चित्त व इंद्रियांच्या क्रिया संयमित करून, आत्मशुद्धीसाठी योगाचा अभ्यास करावा.

Gita Press Meaning

वहाँ आसन पर बैठकर, मन को एकाग्र करके तथा चित्त और इन्द्रियों की क्रियाओं को वश में करके, आत्मशुद्धि के लिये योग का अभ्यास करे।

Critical Edition Meaning

There, having made the mind one-pointed and having restrained the activities of mind and senses, seated on the seat he should practice yoga for self-purification.

Comparative Note

‘Ātma-viśuddhi’ is interpreted devotionally as ‘purification for God-realization’ or ethically as ‘inner purification’; academically it denotes a disciplined refinement of the practitioner’s psycho-moral apparatus enabling concentration and insight.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there; in that place
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)

• एकाग्रम्: one-pointed; concentrated (as an object/state)
• एकाग्रम्: Karma
• Root: एकाग्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• मनः: the mind
• मनः: Karma
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• कृत्वा: having made; having rendered
• Root: √कृ

• यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः: one whose mind and sense-activities are restrained
• यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः: Karta
• Root: यत-चित्त-इन्द्रिय-क्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)

• उपविश्य: having sat down
• Root: उप-√विश्

• आसने: on the seat; on the posture/seat
• आसने: Adhikarana
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)

• युञ्ज्यात्: should practice; should yoke/engage (in)
• Root: √युज्

• योगम्: yoga; meditative discipline
• योगम्: Karma
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)

• आत्मविशुद्धये: for the purification of the self
• आत्मविशुद्धये: Sampradana
• Root: आत्म-विशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Ekāgratā
• Indriya-saṃyama
• Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi
• Abhyāsa (practice)

Key Themes

• One-pointed attention
• Restraint of mental-sensory activity
• Purificatory function of meditation

FAQs

Psychological significance?

It outlines attentional training: narrowing focus (one-pointedness) and reducing impulsive sensory engagement, which together cultivate sustained concentration and emotional steadiness.

Metaphysical meaning?

Purification is a prerequisite for clearer discernment of Self versus mental fluctuations; meditation is presented as both ethical-psychological refinement and a pathway to insight.

Contextual relevance?

This verse links external preparation (seat/place) to internal method (focus and restraint), forming a coherent practice sequence in the chapter.

Modern Application?

Use a single meditation object (breath, mantra) and minimize multitasking; treat practice as gradual training rather than immediate suppression of thoughts.