Ch 6   Yoga  of  Meditation

6.11 to 6.14   Key teachings on Place, posture and method

Meaning of the ślokas by P.Whelan Dec 2025

6.11-6.12

śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya                 sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ

(A) clean place (being) established /  (with a) stable meditation seat of one's own,

nāty-ucchritaṃ nāti-nīcaṃ               cailājina-kuśottaram  |

(which is) not too high nor too low.  /  (A piece of) cloth, fur and kusha grass placed on top.

tatraikāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā                          yata-cittendriya-kriyaḥ

There, focus the mind and having done so  /  keep a restraint on all thinking and sensory activity.

upaviśyāsane yuñjyād                               yogam ātma-viśuddhaye |

Having sat down thus, concentrate (on)  /   (your) Yoga practice (for the) purification of the Self.

6.13-6.14

samaṃ kāya-śiro-grīvaṃ           dhārayann acalaṃ sthiraḥ

Aligning torso, head and neck  /  (and) being held perfectly still and steady,

saṃprekṣya nāsikāgraṃ svaṃ     diśaś cānavalokayan |

gazing at the tip of one's nose  /      and undisturbed by external things.

praśāntātmā vigatabhīr                             brahmacāri-vrate sthitaḥ

Peaceful within one's self (and) fearless,  /   with a vow of purity and remaining thus.

manaḥ saṃyamya mac-citto                                      yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ |

(Your) mind being merged with My own Awareness,  /  remain seated and immersed in My Transcendental Nature.