Bhagavad Gita on sleep and a restless mind
Krishna mentions sleep directly: yoga is not for one who sleeps too much or too little. The verses around it are about the mind that will not settle, which is usually what keeps us awake.
Skip to the verse for your situation ↓5 verses from the Gita
- Bhagavad Gita 6.16 · Krishna
Not too much sleep, not too little.
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः । न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ॥
“Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who eats nothing at all. It is not for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who stays awake too long, Arjuna.”
हे अर्जुन यह योग न तो अधिक खानेवालेका और न बिलकुल न खानेवालेका तथा न अधिक सोनेवालेका और न बिलकुल न सोनेवालेका ही सिद्ध होता है ॥
Steady practice needs a steady body and a steady routine.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 6.17 · Krishna
Balance in food, rest, work and sleep removes sorrow.
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु । युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥
“Yoga that destroys suffering comes from balanced eating, balanced activity, balanced work, and balanced sleep and waking.”
दुःखोंका नाश करनेवाला योग तो यथायोग्य आहार और विहार करनेवालेका, कर्मोंमें यथायोग्य चेष्टा करनेवालेका तथा यथायोग्य सोने और जागनेवालेका ही सिद्ध होता है ॥
Inner steadiness starts with ordinary habits, not with forcing the mind.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 6.34 · Arjuna
The mind is as hard to hold as the wind.
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् । तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥
“The mind is restless, turbulent, stubborn, and strong. I think controlling it is as hard as controlling the wind.”
क्योंकि हे कृष्ण मन बड़ा ही चञ्चल, प्रमथनशील, दृढ़ जिद्दी और बलवान् है । उसका निग्रह करना मैं वायुकी तरह अत्यन्त कठिन मानता हूँ ॥
It feels honest to admit how hard inner control can be.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 6.35 · Krishna
Practice and letting go train it.
श्री भगवानुवाचअसंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलं । अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥
“The mind is hard to control, but it is mastered through practice and detachment.”
श्रीभगवान् बोले हे महाबाहो यह मन बड़ा चञ्चल है और इसका निग्रह करना भी बड़ा कठिन है यह तुम्हारा कहना बिलकुल ठीक है । परन्तु हे कुन्तीनन्दन अभ्यास और वैराग्यके द्वारा इसका निग्रह किया जाता है ॥
You are not stuck with a chaotic mind forever. Repeated practice can change what once felt impossible.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 2.69 · Krishna
What is night for all beings, the steady one is awake to.
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी । यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः ॥
“What is night for all beings is wakefulness for the self-controlled one. What all beings wake toward is night for the seer who knows the real.”
सम्पूर्ण प्राणियों की जो रात परमात्मासे विमुखता है, उसमें संयमी मनुष्य जागता है, और जिसमें सब प्राणी जागते हैं भोग और संग्रहमें लगे रहते हैं, वह तत्त्वको जाननेवाले मुनिकी दृष्टिमें रात है ॥
You can stop measuring life by what the crowd wants and begin seeing what actually matters.
Meaning and commentary →