अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् | अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय || ९ ||
atha cittaṁ samādhātuṁ na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram abhyāsa-yogena tato mām icchāptuṁ dhanañjaya
atha—if therefore; cittam—mind; samādhātum—to fix steadily; na—not; śaknoṣi—you are able; mayi—on Me; sthiram—steady; abhyāsa-yogena—by the practice of yoga; tataḥ—then; mām—Me; icchā—desire; āptum—to attain; dhanañjaya—O winner of wealth (Arjuna).
“If you are unable to fix your mind steadily on Me, then seek to reach Me through the repeated practice of yoga, O Dhananjaya.”
If direct absorption is beyond current capacity, the Lord compassionately offers the second step: abhyasa-yoga, the yoga of repeated practice. This is the systematic, disciplined repetition of spiritual exercises — mantra repetition, meditation sits, study, japa — even when the mind does not fully cooperate. The very willingness to practice again and again, despite distractions, is itself the practice bearing fruit.
Do not wait for perfect concentration before beginning spiritual practice. Set a regular time, sit, and practice — even if the mind wanders constantly. The regularity of showing up matters more than the quality of any single session. Like a muscle, the capacity to focus on the Divine grows through repeated exercise.