Shloka 18

अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः | Akṣara-Brahma-Yoga

The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman

Devanagari script

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते । निःस्पृह: सर्वकामे भ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा

Transliteration

yadā viniyataṁ cittam ātmany evāvatiṣṭhate | niḥspṛhaḥ sarvakāmebhyo yukta ity ucyate tadā ||

Translation

ਜਦੋਂ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੰਯਮਿਤ ਚਿੱਤ ਆਤਮਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੀ ਟਿਕ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸਭ ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਨਿਸ਼ਸਪ੍ਰਿਹ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਦ ਉਸ ਵੇਲੇ ਉਹ ‘ਯੁਕਤ’—ਯੋਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਥਿਤ—ਕਿਹਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• विनियतं: restrained, well-controlled
• विनियतं: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनियत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• चित्तम्: mind
• चित्तम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• आत्मनि: in the Self
• आत्मनि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• एव: indeed, only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अवतिष्ठते: remains, abides
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (अव + स्था)
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• निःस्पृहः: free from desire
• निःस्पृहः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःस्पृह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वकामेभ्यः: from all desires/objects of desire
• सर्वकामेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकाम
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• युक्तः: yoked, disciplined; in yoga
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उच्यते: is said, is called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Singular, Passive

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Ātman (Self)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.