Shloka 12

अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः | Akṣara-Brahma-Yoga

The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman

Devanagari script

तत्रैकाग्रं मन: कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रिय: । उपविश्यासने युगठ्ज्याद्‌ योगमात्मविशुद्धये,उस आसनपर बैठकर, चित्त और इन्द्रियोंकी क्रियाओंको वशमें रखते हुए मनको एकाग्र करके अन्त:ःकरणकी शुद्धिके लिये योगका अभ्यास करे

Transliteration

tatraikāgraṁ manaḥ kṛtvā yatacittendriyakriyaḥ | upaviśyāsane yuñjyād yogaṁ ātmaviśuddhaye ||

Translation

وہاں مناسب آسن پر بیٹھ کر، دل و دماغ اور حواس کی حرکات کو قابو میں رکھے اور من کو یکسو کرے؛ اور باطن کی پاکیزگی کے لیے یوگ کی ریاضت میں لگ جائے۔

Word by Word

तत्रthere; in that place/context

एकाग्रम्one-pointed; concentrated

मनःmind

कृत्वाhaving made

यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियःone whose mind and sense-activities are restrained

उपविश्यhaving sat down

आसनेon a seat; in a posture

युञ्ज्यात्should practice; should yoke/apply (himself)

योगम्yoga; disciplined practice

आत्मविशुद्धयेfor purification of the inner self

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

āsana (seat/posture)

yoga

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches disciplined preparation for yoga: sit properly, restrain the mind and senses, and cultivate one-pointed concentration, because inner purification is the foundation for ethical clarity and steady action.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Bhīṣma Parva setting, the instruction turns to inner discipline: the speaker presents a practical method for meditation—posture, restraint, and concentration—framing yoga as a means to cleanse the inner instrument (mind/heart) amid the larger pressures of the war narrative.