Verse 6.25
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
शनैः शनैरुपरमेद्बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया। आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत्॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śanaiḥ śanair uparamed buddhyā dhṛti-gṛhītayā ātma-saṁsthaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcid api cintayet
Word-by-Word Meanings
śanaiḥ śanaiḥ-gradually, step by step
uparamet-should attain tranquility
buddhyā-by intelligence
dhṛti-gṛhītayā-sustained by conviction
ātma-saṁstham-fixed in the Self
na kiñcit cintayet-should not think of anything
Translation
Gradually, step by step, one should become situated in tranquility by means of intelligence sustained by conviction. Having fixed the mind on the Self, one should not think of anything else.
Commentary
The key instruction is śanaiḥ śanaiḥ - gradually. Krishna acknowledges that mental stillness cannot be forced but must be cultivated patiently through sustained intelligent effort (dhṛti-gṛhītā buddhi). The goal is complete absorption where no other thought arises.
Themes
yogaatman