dhyānayogaḥ · 6.18
When the well-restrained mind abides in the Self alone, and the person is free from craving for all sense pleasures, then he is called a true yogī.
यदा विनियतं(ञ्) चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते ।
निःस्पृहः(स्) सर्वकामेभ्यः(भ्यो) युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥६.१८॥
yadā viniyataṁ(ñ) cittamātmanyevāvatiṣṭhate ।
niḥspṛhaḥ(s) sarvakāmebhyaḥ(bhyo) yukta ityucyate tadā ॥
🎧 Listen to the shloka
💡 How to understand this
Krishna is teaching Arjuna about a mind that has learned to stay quietly with the Self.
Usually, the mind runs everywhere. It says, “I want this toy. I want that sweet. I want praise. I want to win. I want everyone to listen to me.” The mind keeps thinking something outside will make it fully happy.
Krishna says a trained mind becomes different. It can enjoy things, but it does not chase everything. It can say, “This is nice, but I do not need it to be happy.”
Think of a puppy. At first, the puppy runs after every sound, every ball, every smell. But slowly, with gentle training, it learns to sit near its owner. Our mind is like that puppy. We gently bring it back to Bhagavān and to the quiet Self inside.
A strong mind does not run after every want. It can rest.
📖 A story to remember
Arjun loved stickers. Whenever his teacher gave stickers, he wanted the biggest and shiniest one. If another child got a better sticker, Arjun felt sad. If he did not get one, he felt angry.
One day, the teacher gave everyone a small plain sticker. Arjun’s friend got a golden star by mistake. Arjun’s face changed. He wanted to complain.
The teacher noticed and said, “Arjun, is your happiness inside you or inside the sticker?”
Arjun looked down. “It feels like it is in the sticker.”
The teacher smiled. “Stickers are fun. But if your happiness depends on them, the sticker becomes the boss of your mind.”
That day, Arjun kept his plain sticker. At first, he still wanted the golden one. Then he took a breath and said, “It is okay. I can be happy without it.”
Later, he played with his friends and forgot about the sticker.
That is Krishna’s teaching. We can enjoy things, but we do not have to let them control our mind.
🤔 Think about it
◈What is one thing I want so much that I get upset without it?
◈Can I enjoy something without letting it become the boss of my mind?
⭐ Remember this
When the well-restrained mind abides in the Self alone, and the person is free from craving for all sense pleasures, then he is called a true yogī.
🎯 Challenge!
Can you explain this shloka to a friend in your own words? Try telling the story to someone in your family!