Bhagavad Gita BG 18.52
Chapter 18, Verse 52 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानसः । ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं वैराग्यं समुपाश्रितः ॥
vivikta-sevi laghv-ashi yata-vAk-kAya-manasah dhyana-yoga-paro nityam vairagyam samupashritah
Meaning
Dwelling in solitude, eating lightly, controlling speech, body and mind — always devoted to meditation-yoga, taking refuge in dispassion —
Understanding
Continuing the list of Brahman-attaining qualities: vivikta-sevi (frequenting solitude — vivikta means secluded, quiet, apart). Laghv-ashi (eating lightly — light, easily digestible food; not overloading the system). Yata-vAk-kAya-manasah (with speech, body, and mind all regulated/restrained — the triple restraint). Dhyana-yoga-paro nityam (always devoted to dhyana yoga — meditation as the constant practice). Vairagyam samupashritah (taking refuge in dispassion/non-attachment — vairagya as the shelter). These practical outer conditions support the inner purification: solitude, light eating, triple restraint, meditation, and dispassion.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| विविक्तसेवी | vivikta-sevi | dwelling in/frequenting solitude, one who resorts to quiet places |
| लघ्वाशी | laghv-ashi | one who eats lightly (laghu = light, ashi = eater) |
| यतवाक्कायमानसः | yata-vAk-kAya-manasah | with speech, body, and mind all controlled/regulated |
| वैराग्यम् | vairagyam | dispassion, non-attachment, vairagya |
| समुपाश्रितः | samupashritah | having taken refuge in, sheltered by, relying on |
| विविक्त-सेवी | vivikta-sevī | living in a secluded place |
| लघु-आशी | laghu-āśī | eating lightly |
| यत-वाक् | yata-vāk | controlling speech |
| काय | kāya | body |
| मनसः | manasaḥ | and mind |
| ध्यान-योग-परः | dhyāna-yoga-paraḥ | intent on meditation-yoga |
| नित्यम् | nityam | always |
| वैराग्यम् | vairāgyam | renunciation |
| समुपाश्रितः | samupāśritaḥ | having taken shelter of |