Verse 16
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः | न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन || १६ ||
Transliteration
nāty-aśnatas tu yogo 'sti na caikāntam anaśnataḥ na cāti-svapna-śīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna
Synonyms
na—never; ati—too much; aśnataḥ—of one who eats; tu—but; yogaḥ—linking with the Supreme; asti—there is; na—nor; ca—also; ekāntam—completely; anaśnataḥ—of one who does not eat; na—nor; ca—also; ati—too; svapna-śīlasya—of one who sleeps too much; jāgrataḥ—or one who keeps too much awake; na—not; eva—ever; ca—and; arjuna—O Arjuna.
Translation
“Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who does not eat at all; not for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who keeps vigil excessively, O Arjuna.”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
This verse encodes the principle of the middle path. Extreme asceticism — severe fasting, total sleep deprivation — weakens the body and agitates the mind, making meditation impossible. Excessive indulgence — overeating, oversleeping — creates torpor (tamas) and sensory preoccupation that equally obstructs yoga. The practitioner must find the golden mean: enough food, sleep, and rest to maintain a healthy, energetic body without excess.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
Your body is not an obstacle to your spiritual life — it is the vehicle. Treat it with the practical wisdom this verse advocates: eat enough to sustain energy without dulling the mind, sleep enough to maintain alertness without wasting the day in sloth. Neither extreme serves the practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 6.16 mean?
Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who does not eat at all; not for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who keeps vigil excessively, O Arjuna.
What is the word-by-word meaning of Bhagavad Gita 6.16?
na—never; ati—too much; aśnataḥ—of one who eats; tu—but; yogaḥ—linking with the Supreme; asti—there is; na—nor; ca—also; ekāntam—completely; anaśnataḥ—of one who does not eat; na—nor; ca—also; ati—too; svapna-śīlasya—of one who sleeps too much; jāgrataḥ—or one who keeps too much awake; na—not; eva—ever; ca—and; arjuna—O Arjuna.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 6.16 in daily life?
Your body is not an obstacle to your spiritual life — it is the vehicle. Treat it with the practical wisdom this verse advocates: eat enough to sustain energy without dulling the mind, sleep enough to maintain alertness without wasting the day in sloth. Neither extreme serves the practice.