Bhagavad Gita 6.4 — The Marks of One Established in Yoga
यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते।
सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते॥ ६.४॥
A person is said to be firmly established in yoga when they are free from attachment to both sense objects and actions themselves, and have renounced all selfish desires and mental projections born of craving.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yadā | when |
| hi | indeed |
| na | not |
| indriyārtheṣu | in the objects of the senses |
| na | nor |
| karmasu | in actions |
| anuṣajjate | becomes attached |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| sarvasaṅkalpasaṃnyāsī | one who has renounced all selfish desires and mental resolves |
| yogārūḍhaḥ | established in Yoga |
| tadā | then |
| ucyate | is said to be |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yadā | when | sarvasaṅkalpasaṃnyāsī | one who has renounced all selfish desires and mental resolves |
| hi | indeed | yogārūḍhaḥ | established in Yoga |
| na | not | tadā | then |
| indriyārtheṣu | in the objects of the senses | ucyate | is said to be |
| na | nor | ||
| karmasu | in actions | ||
| anuṣajjate | becomes attached | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Here, Lord Krishna describes the true characteristics of one who is firmly established in yoga and explains when a person can genuinely be considered to have reached this elevated state.
Essence
Lord Krishna's Profound Psychological Insight
In this verse, Lord Krishna explains how to recognize whether someone has truly attained inner freedom.
Na indriyārtheṣu anuṣajjate (not attached to sense objects): Ordinarily, our happiness depends on external objects and circumstances. A yogārūḍha uses worldly comforts when they are available but never becomes dependent on them. Whether comforts are present or absent, such a person's inner peace remains undisturbed.
Na karmasu anuṣajjate (free from attachment even to action): Some people become detached from worldly pleasures but develop pride in their actions and achievements. They begin to identify themselves with what they do. A true yogārūḍha performs noble actions without the ego of being the doer and without becoming attached to those actions.
Sarvasaṅkalpasaṁnyāsī (one who has renounced all selfish mental projections): Such a person gives up the endless habit of weaving self-centered plans, desires, and expectations about the future. The mind rests in the present moment, and this inner freedom becomes the foundation of lasting peace.
Message for Everyday Life (The Art of Non-Attachment)
Use the world without becoming its slave: The Gita does not teach us to abandon the world—it teaches us to abandon attachment. Today, many people have become so dependent on possessions, comforts, technology, and even other people that their peace disappears when these are taken away.
Practical approach: Make use of things and circumstances, but never allow them to control your happiness. When you perform your duties without clinging to results or carrying unnecessary mental burdens, you experience an extraordinary sense of lightness and inner freedom. That freedom is the hallmark of yoga.
Next Topic
As the seeker rises above desires and attachments, an even deeper truth becomes evident: the greatest friend and the greatest enemy are not found outside, but within one's own mind. In the next verse, Lord Krishna reveals this profound principle.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Attachment binds more strongly than circumstances.
Yoga matures when dependence on outcomes fades away.
Use the world without becoming owned by it.
A quiet mind is born from reduced craving.
Work freely, but do not let work define your worth.
Inner mastery is greater than external achievement.
The less the mind clings, the more peace it discovers.