Bhagavad Gita BG 6.23
Chapter 6, Verse 23 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
तं विद्याद् दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् । स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा ॥
tam vidyad duhkha-samyoga viyogam yoga-samjnitam sa nishcayena yoktavyo yogo 'nirvinna-cetasa
Meaning
Know that to be yoga — called by the name yoga — which is the disconnection from the connection with suffering. This yoga must be practiced with determination and with an undespondent mind.
Understanding
The definition of yoga from its function: duhkha-samyoga-viyoga — the viyoga (dis-connection, separation) from the samyoga (connection, association) with duhkha (suffering). Yoga at its root meaning is 'union' — here Krishna defines it as the 'disconnection from suffering,' which is the other side of the same coin. How to practice: sa nishcayena yoktavyah — with nishcaya (firm determination, resolve). Anirvinna-cetasa — with undisponded mind, not with a discouraged, dispirited mind. Steadiness of purpose is the means.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| दुःखसंयोगवियोगम् | duhkha-samyoga-viyogam | disconnection from connection with suffering |
| योगसंज्ञितम् | yoga-samjnitam | called by the name yoga |
| निश्चयेन | nishcayena | with determination, with firm resolve |
| अनिर्विण्णचेतसा | anirvinna-cetasa | with undisponded, undiscouraged mind |
| तम् | tam | that / this (disconnection from pain) |
| विद्यात् | vidyāt | should know / let one understand |
| सः | saḥ | that (yoga) |
| योक्तव्यः | yoktavyaḥ | should be practiced / must be undertaken |
| योगः | yogaḥ | yoga / this yoga practice |