dhyānayogaḥ · 6.4
A person is called yogārūḍha, one who is ready for deeper meditation and self-inquiry, when he is no longer obsessed with sense pleasures or the actions meant to secure them, and has renounced all binding saṅkalpas.
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यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते ।
सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते ॥६.४॥
yadā hi nendriyārtheṣu na karmasvanuṣajjate ।
sarvasaṅkalpasaṁnyāsī yogārūḍhastadocyate ॥
🎧 Listen to the shloka
💡 How to understand this
Krishna is teaching Arjuna how to know when the mind is becoming mature.
When you are small, you may love a toy so much that if someone takes it away, you cry. But when you grow older, you may still play with the toy with a younger child, and if the game stops, you are okay. You do not hate the toy. You are just not stuck to it.
That is what Krishna means. A mature person can enjoy things, but does not become a slave to them.
If there is ice cream, you can enjoy it. If there is no ice cream, you can still be happy. If you win a game, you can smile. If you lose, you can learn and play again. This kind of mind is strong.
Krishna says that when the mind is not always running after things and pleasures, it becomes ready for quiet prayer, study, and meditation.
📖 A story to remember
Ananya loved playing a video game after school. At first, she played for a little while and then did her homework. But slowly, she began thinking about the game all the time.
In class, she wondered, “What level will I play today?” During dinner, she hurried through her food. When her mother said, “No game today; we have guests,” Ananya became upset and complained.
Her father sat with her and said, “The game is not bad. But check your mind. Are you playing the game, or is the game playing with your mind?”
Ananya thought about it. The next day, she finished her homework first. Then she played for a short time. When the timer rang, she turned it off. At first, it was hard. But after a few days, she felt stronger.
One evening, her cousin came over and wanted to draw instead of play games. Ananya smiled and said, “Okay, let us draw.” She enjoyed that too.
Ananya learned that enjoying something is fine, but getting stuck to it makes the mind weak. A strong mind can enjoy and also let go.
🤔 Think about it
◈Is there something I get very upset about when I do not get it?
◈Can I enjoy my favorite thing without becoming stuck to it?
⭐ Remember this
A person is called yogārūḍha, one who is ready for deeper meditation and self-inquiry, when he is no longer obsessed with sense pleasures or the actions meant to secure them, and has renounced all binding saṅkalpas.
🎯 Challenge!
Can you explain this shloka to a friend in your own words? Try telling the story to someone in your family!