Chapter 6, Verse 23
तं विद्याद् दु:खसंयोगवियोगं योगसञ्ज्ञितम् | स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा ॥23॥
taṃ vidyād duḥkha-saṃyoga-viyogaṃ yoga-sañjñitam | sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo’nirviṇṇa-cetasā
"One should know that severance of contact with sorrow to be what is called Yoga. That Yoga has to be practised with perseverance and with an undepressed heart."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 6.23 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 6.23 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
In this verse, Krishna defines Yoga not merely as a set of postures, but as 'duḥkha-saṃyoga-viyoga'—the disconnection from the union with suffering. The material world is inherently 'duḥkhālayam' (a place of misery). Yoga is the technology to decouple our consciousness from this inherent suffering. To achieve this, two mental attitudes are required: 'niścayena' (firm resolve/determination) and 'anirviṇṇa-cetasā' (a heart that is not despondent or weary). It is a call to persistent practice even when the results are not immediately visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 6.23?
One should know that severance of contact with sorrow to be what is called Yoga. That Yoga has to be practised with perseverance and with an undepressed heart.