अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् ।
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ॥
अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
अगर तू मनको मेरेमें अचलभावसे स्थिर अर्पण करनेमें समर्थ नहीं है, तो हे धनञ्जय अभ्यासयोगके द्वारा तू मेरी प्राप्तिकी इच्छा कर ॥
English
If you cannot steadily fix your mind on me, then, Dhananjaya, seek me through practice yoga.
What this verse means
If steady devotion feels too hard, begin with practice. Keep returning to the divine again and again until the mind learns to stay.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna still stands frozen, and Krishna keeps meeting his wavering mind step by step. After asking him to hold his mind on the divine, Krishna gives a gentler next rung: if that is too hard, use repeated practice to move toward the same love.
Why this verse still matters
You sit down to pray, meditate, or simply stay with one hard truth, and your mind runs off in ten directions. Start again without drama. Repetition can carry you where force cannot.
The takeaway
You do not need perfect concentration first. Repeated return is enough to begin.
Word-by-word translation
अथ (then) / चित्तम् (mind) / समाधातुम् (to fix steadily) / न (not) / शक्नोषि (you are able) / मयि (in me) / स्थिरम् (steadily) / अभ्यासयोगेन (through practice yoga) / ततः (then) / माम् (me) / इच्छ (seek/desire) / आप्तुम् (to attain) / धनञ्जय (Dhananjaya)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga — The Yoga of Devotion, which contains 20 verses.
Explore related themes: manas (49 verses), shraddha (34 verses)