Dwelling in solitude, eating lightly, and controlling speech, body, and mind, one stays absorbed in meditation, grounded in non-attachment.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 18.52
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो विशुद्ध सात्त्विकी बुद्धिसे युक्त, वैराग्यके आश्रित, एकान्तका सेवन करनेवाला और नियमित भोजन करनेवाला साधक धैर्यपूर्वक इन्द्रियोंका नियमन करके, शरीरवाणीमनको वशमें करके, शब्दादि विषयोंका त्याग करके और रागद्वेषको छोड़कर निरन्तर ध्यानयोगके परायण हो जाता है, वह अहंकार, बल, दर्प, काम, क्रोध और परिग्रहका त्याग करके एवं निर्मम तथा शान्त होकर ब्रह्मप्राप्तिका पात्र हो जाता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
विविक्तसेवीdwelling in solitudeलघ्वाशीeating lightlyयतवाक्कायमानसःone whose speech, body, and mind are restrainedध्यानयोगपरोdevoted to meditation-yogaनित्यंalwaysवैराग्यंnon-attachmentसमुपाश्रितःtaking refuge in
Read literallydwelling in solitude · eating lightly · one whose speech, body, and mind are restrained · devoted to meditation-yoga · always · non-attachment · taking refuge in
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the focus from heroic moments to the habits that make inner steadiness possible.
A serious seeker lives simply, keeps the senses under control, and stays devoted to meditation with non-attachment.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Krishna is finishing his map of inner freedom for Arjuna. After describing the purified mind, he adds the daily disciplines that support it: solitude, light eating, restraint of speech, body, and mind, and steady meditation rooted in non-attachment.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You turn off your phone, skip the extra noise, and sit alone before dawn. The mind settles faster when the day stops feeding it distractions.
The takeaway
“There is calm in a life that is deliberately uncluttered.”
It shifts the focus from heroic moments to the habits that make inner steadiness possible.
What this verse means
A serious seeker lives simply, keeps the senses under control, and stays devoted to meditation with non-attachment.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Krishna is finishing his map of inner freedom for Arjuna. After describing the purified mind, he adds the daily disciplines that support it: solitude, light eating, restraint of speech, body, and mind, and steady meditation rooted in non-attachment.
Why this verse still matters
You turn off your phone, skip the extra noise, and sit alone before dawn. The mind settles faster when the day stops feeding it distractions.
“There is calm in a life that is deliberately uncluttered.”
Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), dhyana yoga (13 verses)