Path of Meditation
Verse 6.16
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः। न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन।।6.16।।
nātyaśhnatastu yogo ’sti na chaikāntam anaśhnataḥ na chāti-svapna-śhīlasya jāgrato naiva chārjuna
Word Meanings
na—not; ati—too much; aśhnataḥ—of one who eats; tu—however; yogaḥ—Yog; asti—there is; na—not; cha—and; ekāntam—at all; anaśhnataḥ—abstaining from eating; na—not; cha—and; ati—too much; svapna-śhīlasya—of one who sleeps; jāgrataḥ—of one who does not sleep enough; na—not; eva—certainly; cha—and; arjuna—Arjun
Translation · English
Verily, Yoga is not possible for him who eats too much, nor for him who does not eat at all, nor for him who sleeps too much, nor for him who is always awake, O Arjuna.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Bhagavan Krishna addresses the fundamental requirement of 'Yukta-ahara-vihara'—the harmonization of bodily needs for the sake of spiritual transcendence. Meditation is not an act of self-torture nor a pursuit of sensory indulgence; rather, it is a state of equilibrium. Krishna emphasizes that the physical vessel must be treated as a sacred instrument; if it is neglected through excessive fasting or burdened by overindulgence, the consciousness becomes agitated and restless, rendering deep concentration impossible. The path to the Divine is not found in the extremes of the physical realm, but in the 'Middle Path' where the body remains balanced so that the mind can turn inward without distraction. This teaching is a gentle rebuke to the ascetic practices of the time that glorified self-mortification as the sole gateway to liberation. Krishna redirects Arjuna toward a holistic discipline where spiritual practice is integrated into a balanced lifestyle, ensuring that the senses are neither starved nor over-stimulated. By moderating our daily rhythms, we clear the path for the intellect to achieve stillness. True Yoga is the poise of the soul that transcends the fluctuations caused by bodily extremes, allowing the seeker to maintain a steady, unswerving focus on the inner Self.
Spiritual progress requires the middle path of moderation, ensuring the physical vessel is neither too stimulated nor too depleted to support the journey of the soul.
Connected Verses
Describes the type of food (sattvic) that contributes to health and equilibrium, supporting the practical application of this verse.
This verse cautions against penance performed with foolish obstinacy or self-torture, which aligns with the avoidance of extreme fasting.
This verse directly follows by explaining that moderate lifestyle naturally destroys all sorrow when coupled with meditation.
Krishna defines Yoga as 'samatvam' or evenness of mind, which is the ultimate goal of the balanced lifestyle described in 6.16.
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