श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला ।समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि ॥
śrutivipratipannā te yadā sthāsyati niścalā |samādhāv acalā buddhis tadā yogam avāpsyasi ||
- श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना · śrutivipratipannā
- bewildered by (conflicting) scriptural teachings
- ते · te
- your
- यदा · yadā
- when
- स्थास्यति · sthāsyati
- will stand
- निश्चला · niścalā
- unmoving, steady
- समाधौ · samādhau
- in concentration, stillness
- अचला · acalā
- unshaken
- बुद्धिः · buddhiḥ
- understanding
- तदा · tadā
- then
- योगम् · yogam
- yoga
- अवाप्स्यसि · avāpsyasi
- you will attain
“When your understanding, bewildered by scriptural claims, stands unmoving and unshaken in stillness — then you will attain yoga.”
— Original plain-language translation
The test of yoga is steadiness amid noise — doctrines included. Krishna names Arjuna's exact disease (śruti-vipratipatti, confusion from hearing too much) and its cure: not more hearing, but standing still. This verse prompts Arjuna's famous next question.
— Reader's notes (original)