Verse 12.9
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् | अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ||९||
Transliteration (IAST)
atha cittaṁ samādhātuṁ na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram | abhyāsa-yogena tato mām icchāptuṁ dhanañjaya ||9||
Word-by-Word Meanings
atha-if/then
cittam-mind
samādhātum-to fix
na śaknoṣi-you are not able
sthiram-steadily
abhyāsa-yogena-by the yoga of practice
iccha-desire
āptum-to attain
Translation
If you are unable to fix your mind steadily on Me, then seek to reach Me by the yoga of repeated practice, O Dhananjaya.
Commentary
Krishna begins a descending ladder of practice for those unable to achieve immediate absorption. Ramanuja notes the compassion in this graduated approach - Krishna does not abandon those who struggle. Abhyāsa-yoga (repeated practice) corresponds to the discipline described in Chapter 6 for controlling the restless mind.
Themes
bhaktiyoga