Verse 15.11
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम् | यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतसः ||११||
Transliteration (IAST)
yatanto yoginaś cainaṁ paśyanty ātmany avasthitam | yatanto 'py akṛtātmāno nainaṁ paśyanty acetasaḥ ||11||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Striving yogis perceive this Self situated within themselves. But those whose minds are not purified do not perceive it, even though they strive.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that mere effort (yatna) is insufficient without inner purification (ātma-śuddhi). The 'akṛtātmānaḥ' are those who have not prepared themselves through ethical discipline and mental purification. Ramanuja notes that yoga practice without devotion and moral preparation cannot reveal the self. This verse underscores the prerequisite of adhikāra (qualification) for spiritual realization.