Verse 20
यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया | यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति || २० ||
Transliteration
yatroparamate cittaṃ niruddhaṃ yoga-sevayā yatra caivātmanātmānaṃ paśyann ātmani tuṣyati
Synonyms
yatra—in that state of affairs where; uparamate—cease (because one feels transcendental happiness); cittam—mental activities; niruddham—being restrained from matter; yoga-sevayā—by practice of yoga; yatra—in which; ca—also; eva—certainly; ātmanā—by the pure mind; ātmānam—the Self; paśyan—realizing the position of; ātmani—in the Self; tuṣyati—one becomes satisfied.
Translation
“The state in which the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, becomes still — and in which, seeing the Self by the self, one is satisfied in the Self —”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
Verses 6.20-23 describe the four-fold nature of the highest samadhi. Here (verse 20) the first characteristic is given: the complete cessation (uparamate) of mental activity through sustained yoga practice, and the discovery that the Self knows itself directly — 'seeing the Self by the self' (ātmanātmānam paśyan). This Self-knowledge is accompanied by tuṣyati — satisfaction, contentment, a deep sense of having arrived home.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
There are moments in deep meditation — perhaps rare at first — when the mind simply stops its churning and a quiet recognition arises: 'I am here. I have always been here.' This quiet recognition is a glimpse of what verse 6.20 describes. Welcome these moments without grasping at them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 6.20 mean?
The state in which the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, becomes still — and in which, seeing the Self by the self, one is satisfied in the Self —
What is the word-by-word meaning of Bhagavad Gita 6.20?
yatra—in that state of affairs where; uparamate—cease (because one feels transcendental happiness); cittam—mental activities; niruddham—being restrained from matter; yoga-sevayā—by practice of yoga; yatra—in which; ca—also; eva—certainly; ātmanā—by the pure mind; ātmānam—the Self; paśyan—realizing the position of; ātmani—in the Self; tuṣyati—one becomes satisfied.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 6.20 in daily life?
There are moments in deep meditation — perhaps rare at first — when the mind simply stops its churning and a quiet recognition arises: 'I am here. I have always been here.' This quiet recognition is a glimpse of what verse 6.20 describes. Welcome these moments without grasping at them.