A core teaching · grounding in mood · easy to enter
“Balance makes meditation possible; extremes break it.”
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.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
Read literallyfor one who eats too much · indeed · yoga · is · not · and · entirely · for one who does not eat · not · and · for one who sleeps too much · for one who stays awake · not · indeed · and · Arjuna
Meditation does not work with extremes. Too much food, no food, too much sleep, or no sleep all disturb the practice.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Dhyana Yoga" (The Yoga of Meditation).
Verse 16 sits in Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita — Dhyana Yoga, "The Yoga of Meditation". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
You skip meals, then overeat at night. You sleep badly, then try to meditate anyway. The mind cannot settle when the body is being pushed into extremes.
Did you like this verse?
It shifts discipline from heroic intensity to balanced repetition.
What this verse means
Meditation does not work with extremes. Too much food, no food, too much sleep, or no sleep all disturb the practice.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is being taught how to train the mind for meditation. Krishna says the practice fails if life swings into extremes of indulgence or deprivation, because the body and mind must be kept in balance.
Why this verse still matters
You skip meals, then overeat at night. You sleep badly, then try to meditate anyway. The mind cannot settle when the body is being pushed into extremes.
“Steady practice needs a steady body and a steady routine.”
Explore related themes: dhyana (31 verses), discipline (14 verses)