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← Chapter 6: The Yoga of Meditation

Verse 6.11

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः। नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्॥

Transliteration (IAST)

śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ nāty-ucchritaṁ nāti-nīcaṁ cailājina-kuśottaram

Word-by-Word Meanings

śucau-in a clean
deśe-place
sthiram-firm
āsanam-seat
na ati-ucchritam-not too high
na ati-nīcam-not too low
caila-ajina-kuśa-cloth, deerskin, and kusha grass

Translation

In a clean place, having established a firm seat for oneself, neither too high nor too low, covered with cloth, deerskin, and kusha grass -

Commentary

Krishna provides specific physical instructions for meditation posture. The seat arrangement - kusha grass on the ground, deerskin over it, and cloth on top - was the traditional yogic setup. The emphasis on cleanliness and moderate height reflects the principle of sattvic environment.

Themes

yoga