Self-Discipline

One should lift oneself up by oneself and not let oneself sink down; for the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् | आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ||६-५||

They call the senses the horses, and the objects their pastures. The wise call the Self, joined with the senses and the mind, the enjoyer.

इन्द्रियाणि हयानाहुर्विषयाँ स्तेषु गोचरान् । आत्मेन्द्रियमनोयुक्तं भोक्तेत्याहुर्मनीषिणः ॥ ४॥

dwelling in solitude, eating lightly, with speech, body, and mind controlled, ever devoted to the yoga of meditation, taking refuge in dispassion,

विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानसः | ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं वैराग्यं समुपाश्रितः ||१८-५२||

Endowed with a purified intellect, restraining the self with firmness, giving up sound and the other objects of sense, and casting aside attraction and aversion,

बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च | शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च ||१८-५१||

Calmness, self-control, austerity, purity, patience, and uprightness, knowledge, wisdom, and faith in God — these make up the work of a brahmin, born of his own nature.

शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च | ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यं ब्रह्मकर्म स्वभावजम् ||१८-४२||

But the resolve by which one holds fast to dharma, pleasure, and wealth, Arjuna, with attachment and craving for their fruits — that resolve, Partha, is rajasic.

यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन | प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी धृतिः सा पार्थ राजसी ||१८-३४||

The unwavering resolve by which, through yoga, one holds together the workings of the mind, the vital breaths, and the senses — that resolve, Partha, is sattvic.

धृत्या यया धारयते मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः | योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या धृतिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ||१८-३३||

The Blessed Lord said: Without doubt, mighty-armed one, the mind is hard to restrain and unsteady; but by practice, Arjuna, and by detachment it can be brought under control.

श्रीभगवानुवाच | असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् | अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ||६-३५||

Wherever the restless, unsteady mind wanders off, from there one should restrain it and bring it back under the control of the Self alone.

यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् | ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ||६-२६||

For one who has conquered the self by the self, the self is a friend; but for one who has not mastered the self, the self remains hostile, like an enemy.

बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः | अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ||६-६||

One who has not turned away from bad conduct, who is not at peace, not composed, whose mind is not calm—cannot attain it even through knowledge.

नाविरतो दुश्चरितान्नाशान्तो नासमाहितः । नाशान्तमानसो वाऽपि प्रज्ञानेनैनमाप्नुयात् ॥ २४॥

But one who has understanding, whose mind is always restrained—his senses are manageable, like the good horses of a charioteer.

यस्तु विज्ञानवान्भवति युक्तेन मनसा सदा । तस्येन्द्रियाणि वश्यानि सदश्वा इव सारथेः ॥ ६॥

The good and the pleasant approach a person; the wise one, considering both, distinguishes them. The wise one chooses the good over the pleasant; the dull one chooses the pleasant for the sake of getting and keeping.

श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यमेतः तौ सम्परीत्य विविनक्ति धीरः । श्रेयो हि धीरोऽभि प्रेयसो वृणीते प्रेयो मन्दो योगक्षेमाद्वृणीते ॥ २॥

Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-restraint, and purity of intention — this is called austerity of the mind.

मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः | भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ||१७-१६||

For one who is moderate in eating and recreation, moderate in effort in actions, and moderate in sleep and waking, yoga becomes the destroyer of suffering.

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु | युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ||६-१७||

Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who does not eat at all, nor for one given to too much sleep, nor for one who stays awake, Arjuna.

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः | न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ||६-१६||

This they consider yoga: the steady holding of the senses. Then one becomes undistracted, for yoga is arising and passing away.

तां योगमिति मन्यन्ते स्थिरामिन्द्रियधारणाम् । अप्रमत्तस्तदा भवति योगो हि प्रभवाप्ययौ ॥ ११॥

But one who has understanding, thoughtful, always pure—he reaches that state, from which he is not born again.

यस्तु विज्ञानवान्भवति समनस्कः सदा शुचिः । स तु तत्पदमाप्नोति यस्माद्भूयो न जायते ॥ ८॥

One who is without understanding, whose mind is always unrestrained—his senses are unmanageable, like the bad horses of a charioteer.

यस्त्वविज्ञानवान्भवत्ययुक्तेन मनसा सदा । तस्येन्द्रियाण्यवश्यानि दुष्टाश्वा इव सारथेः ॥ ५॥

This threefold austerity, practiced with supreme faith by people who are disciplined and desire no fruit, they call sattvic.

श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्त्रिविधं नरैः | अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते ||१७-१७||