Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 6 › Verse 17
Bhagavad Gītā 6.17: Not too much, not too little
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥
yuktāhāravihārasya yuktaceṣṭasya karmasu
yuktasvapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkhahā
Meaning
Yoga destroys sorrow for one who is moderate in food and recreation, moderate in effort in actions, and moderate in sleep and waking. The preceding verse warns against both excess and deprivation.
For children
Krishna says: “Eat the right amount, play the right amount, work and sleep the right amount. Then you will feel happy and peaceful.”
In the chapter on meditation, Kṛṣṇa explains the everyday habits that support a calm mind.
Word by word
युक्ताहारविहारस्य — For one balanced in eating and play
- yukta: balanced, right-sized
- āhāra: eating, food
- vihāra: recreation, play
युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु — balanced in effort at work
- ceṣṭā: effort
- karmasu: in work
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य — balanced in sleeping and waking
- svapna: sleep
- avabodha: being awake
योगो भवति दुःखहा — yoga takes away sorrow
- bhavati: becomes
- duḥkhahā: destroyer of sorrow
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.