Bhagavad Gita 6.20 — Through Yoga the Mind Becomes Still and Finds Satisfaction in the Self
यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया।
यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति॥ ६.२०॥
When, through the practice of yoga, the mind becomes completely restrained and peaceful, and the seeker realizes the Self through the purified inner consciousness, finding complete satisfaction in the Self alone, that is the higher state of yoga.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yatra | in that state where |
| uparamate | comes to rest |
| cittam | the mind |
| niruddham | completely restrained |
| yogasevayā | through the practice of Yoga |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yatra | where |
| ca | and |
| eva | indeed |
| ātmanā | by the purified mind |
| ātmānam | the Self |
| paśyan | beholding |
| ātmani | in the Self |
| tuṣyati | rejoices |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yatra | in that state where | yatra | where |
| uparamate | comes to rest | ca | and |
| cittam | the mind | eva | indeed |
| niruddham | completely restrained | ātmanā | by the purified mind |
| yogasevayā | through the practice of Yoga | ātmānam | the Self |
| paśyan | beholding | ||
| ātmani | in the Self | ||
| tuṣyati | rejoices | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
In this verse, Lord Krishna begins describing the profound state in which the mind becomes completely still and rests in the Self through deep meditation.
Essence
Lord Krishna's Profound Spiritual Insight
In the previous verse, Lord Krishna illustrated the steadiness of the meditating mind with the example of a motionless lamp. Now He describes the inner experience that naturally arises from such complete stillness.
Yatroparamate cittam (where the mind comes to complete rest): Through sustained practice of yoga, the restless mind gradually ceases to chase external objects. This is not merely the reduction of thoughts but the calming of the very restlessness that gives rise to them.
Niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā (restrained through the practice of yoga): This state is not produced by force or suppression. Rather, it develops naturally as the fruit of sincere and continuous yogic practice. The mind spontaneously settles inward.
Ātmanātmānaṁ paśyan (seeing the Self through the Self): The seeker withdraws attention from the external world and directly experiences their own true nature. This realization is not an intellectual conclusion but a living spiritual experience.
Ātmani tuṣyati (finding complete satisfaction in the Self): At this stage, fulfillment no longer depends upon possessions, achievements, or changing circumstances. The source of contentment is discovered within one's own being.
Lord Krishna teaches that the purpose of meditation is not merely to calm the mind but to awaken this deep inner fulfillment, where the seeker becomes completely satisfied in the Self.
Message for Everyday Life (Discovering Inner Contentment)
True contentment is found within: Most people spend their lives searching for happiness through external achievements, yet such happiness is always temporary.
Practical approach: Set aside a little time each day to sit quietly with yourself, without seeking entertainment or distraction. Gradually, you will begin to discover a quiet joy that arises from within and does not depend on external circumstances.
Next Topic
As the seeker becomes fully satisfied in the Self, an extraordinary form of bliss begins to unfold—one that is entirely different from ordinary sensory pleasure. In the next verse, Lord Krishna describes this supreme inner happiness.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
The deepest discovery is discovering oneself.
A quiet mind reveals a deeper dimension of being.
Lasting contentment arises from within, not from possessions.
When the mind settles, awareness expands.
Knowing oneself is greater than knowing the world.
Inner stillness is fertile ground for transformation.
The soul finds satisfaction in its own true nature.