Bhagavad Gita BG 12.9
Chapter 12, Verse 9 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् । अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ॥
atha cittam samadhatum na shaknoshi mayi sthiram abhyasa-yogena tato mam icchaptum dhananjaya
Meaning
But if you are not able to fix the mind steadily on Me — then seek to reach Me by the yoga of practice (abhyasa), O Dhananjaya.
Understanding
The graduated path: if one cannot immediately achieve the full immersion of v8, begin with abhyasa — practice. Atha cittam samadhatum na shaknoshi mayi sthiram (if you cannot fix the mind steadily on Me). Abhyasa-yogena tato mam iccha aptum (then seek to reach Me through the yoga of practice). Abhyasa is repeated, regular practice — the discipline of returning the mind to the Divine, over and over. The teaching: full immersion is the goal; practice is the path for those not yet able to achieve full immersion directly.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| चित्तम् | cittam | mind, consciousness, the thinking principle |
| समाधातुम् | samadhatum | to fix, to establish firmly, to concentrate |
| स्थिरम् | sthiram | steadily, stably, firmly |
| अभ्यासयोग | abhyasa-yoga | the yoga of repeated practice |
| अथ | atha | but if |
| न | na | not |
| शक्नोषि | śaknoṣi | you are able |
| मयि | mayi | in Me |
| समाधातुम् | samādhātum | to fix, to set |
| अभ्यास-योगेन | abhyāsa-yogena | by the yoga of practice |
| ततः | tataḥ | then |
| माम् | mām | Me |
| इच्छ | iccha | desire, seek |
| आप्तुम् | āptum | to attain |
| धनञ्जय | dhanañjaya | O Dhananjaya (Arjuna) |