nātyaśhnatastu yogo ’sti na chaikāntam anaśhnataḥ
na chāti-svapna-śhīlasya jāgrato naiva chārjuna
na — not;
ati — too much;
aśhnataḥ — of one who eats;
tu — however;
yogaḥ — Yog;
asti — there is;
na — not;
cha — and;
ekāntam — at all;
anaśhnataḥ — abstaining from eating;
na — not;
cha — and;
ati — too much;
svapna-śhīlasya — of one who sleeps;
jāgrataḥ — of one who does not sleep enough;
na — not;
eva — certainly;
cha — and;
arjuna — Arjun
In this verse, Krishna is telling Arjuna that to be a successful yogi, it's important to have a balanced approach to food and sleep. Let's break this down further.
First, the verse emphasizes that both overeating and undereating are not good for someone who wants to practice yoga. When you eat too much, your body feels heavy and lethargic, making it hard to focus on your yoga practice. On the other hand, if you eat too little, you might feel weak and lack the energy needed to meditate or perform yoga. So, finding a middle ground is key.
Krishna then explains that the type of food you eat is also important. He suggests that yogis should eat simple, pure foods like grains, fruits, and vegetables. These foods are beneficial for both body and mind. They help keep you in a good state of health, which is necessary when you are trying to connect with your higher self during yoga. Foods that come from animals are often considered to be less pure and are associated with negative feelings or ignorance. This means that eating these foods can cloud your mind and make it difficult to connect with your spiritual side.
Additionally, Krishna highlights the consequences of eating without considering others or the world around you. If you eat only for pleasure or don’t think about where your food comes from, you are practicing selfish behavior. For example, cooking and eating without offering any food to others or to God is viewed as a bad practice in yoga. This could lead to negative results or bad karma in life.
Moreover, fasting is mentioned. It's important to remember that fasting is not about starving yourself or making up your own rules about how to eat or not eat. Instead, it means following the guidelines given in the scriptures, which suggest moderation. If you feel hungry, you shouldn’t ignore that, but you also shouldn’t overindulge. A yogi should ideally eat what is necessary and should offer their food to God before eating it, as a sign of respect and gratitude.
The verse also talks about proper sleep. Getting too little sleep or too much sleep affects your ability to practice yoga. For most people, around six hours of sleep is ideal. If you find yourself sleeping a lot more than that, it may mean you are feeling lazy or slow, which can hinder your yoga practice. Too much sleep can also mean that you are indulging in dreams that may take you away from reality, making it harder to stay focused on your goals.
In summary, this verse is a reminder that for someone serious about practicing yoga, it's really about balance—eating just the right amount of the right kinds of food and getting a good amount of sleep. A yogi should aim to live a simple and mindful life, where every meal is a chance to express gratitude and every sleep is an opportunity to recharge without excess. Following these guidelines gives one the best chance to grow spiritually and succeed in their yoga practice.