योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः । एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः ॥
yogī yuñjīta satatamātmānaṃ rahasi sthitaḥ | ekākī yatacittātmā nirāśīraparigrahaḥ ||
Translation
The yogi should constantly engage the self in meditation, staying in a solitary place, alone, with mind and body controlled, free from hope, free from possessiveness.
Interpretation
Krishna now turns to practical meditation instruction. Five conditions for practice: (1) satata — constantly, regularly; (2) rahasi sthita — in a solitary place; (3) ekaki — alone (not lonely, but deliberately without company to allow inward focus); (4) yata-chitta-atma — controlled in both mind and body; (5) nirashi-aparigraha — free from desire (nirashi — without hope for outcomes) and from possessiveness (aparigraha — non-grasping). These are not harsh conditions but the gentle art of creating space for the Self to reveal itself.