Shloka 16

अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः | Akṣara-Brahma-Yoga

The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman

Devanagari script

नात्यश्षतस्तु योगो$स्ति न चैकान्तमनश्रतः । न चाति स्वप्रशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन

Transliteration

nātyaśnataḥ tu yogo 'sti na caikāntam anaśrataḥ | na cāti-svapnaśīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna ||

Translation

O Arjuna, hindi nakakamtan ang yoga ng taong labis kung kumain, ni ng taong hindi kumakain kailanman. Hindi rin ito para sa taong labis kung matulog, ni para sa taong nagbabantay nang walang hangganan.

Word by Word

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na

• ati-aśnataḥ: of one who eats too much
• ati-aśnataḥ: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati + aśnat (√aś 'to eat')
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular (used adverbially: 'for one who eats too much')

• tu: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu

• yogaḥ: yoga (discipline/union)
• yogaḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• asti: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as
• Form: Present, 3rd person, Singular

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca

• ekāntam: entirely/absolutely
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānta
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular (used adverbially: 'entirely/absolutely')

• anaśnataḥ: of one who does not eat (fasts)
• anaśnataḥ: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anaśnat (a- + √aś 'to eat')
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular (used adverbially: 'for one who does not eat/fasts')

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca

• ati-svapna-śīlasya: of one habituated to excessive sleep
• ati-svapna-śīlasya: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati + svapna + śīla
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular (used adverbially: 'for one given to too much sleep')

• jāgrataḥ: of one who is (over-)wakeful
• jāgrataḥ: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāgrat (√jāgar 'to be awake')
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular (used adverbially: 'for one who stays awake too much')

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na

• eva: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca

• arjuna: O Arjuna
• arjuna: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Yoga requires moderation: neither indulgence nor harsh extremes in eating, sleeping, or wakefulness. Ethical self-governance begins with balanced habits that support mental steadiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Bhīṣma Parva’s Bhagavadgītā setting, the dialogue on yoga and inner discipline continues on the battlefield. This verse emphasizes practical prerequisites for spiritual practice—balanced living amid the pressures of war and duty.