शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः ।
नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् ॥
नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
शुद्ध भूमिपर, जिसपर क्रमशः कुश, मृगछाला और वस्त्र बिछे हैं, जो न अत्यन्त ऊँचा है और न अत्यन्त नीचा, ऐसे अपने आसनको स्थिरस्थापन करके ॥
English
Having placed a firm seat for himself on a clean spot, neither too high nor too low, with cloth, deerskin, and kusha grass laid in layers.
What this verse means
Choose a clean, steady seat that is neither too high nor too low, and prepare it with cloth, deerskin, and kusha grass.
Context & commentary
Krishna is teaching Arjuna how to meditate after the war has frozen in his heart. Before the mind can be gathered, the body needs a clean, steady seat in a quiet place. This verse prepares the ground for practice.
Why this verse still matters
You sit on the edge of the bed after midnight, phone face down, trying to calm a racing mind. The first step is not insight — it is creating a steady place to begin.
The takeaway
Inner training begins with a stable place. Even the body must be settled before the mind can quiet down.
Word-by-word translation
शुचौ (on a clean) / देशे (place) / प्रतिष्ठाप्य (having placed) / स्थिरम् (firm) / आसनम् (seat) / आत्मनः (for oneself) / न (not) / अत्युच्छ्रितम् (too high) / न (not) / अति-नीचम् (too low) / चैल-आजिन-कुश-उत्तरम् (with cloth, deerskin, and kusha grass laid above)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga — The Yoga of Meditation, which contains 47 verses.
Explore related themes: dhyana (31 verses)