📿 Shloka Collection

Athava Yoginam Eva

Gita 6.42 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6 — Atma Samyama Yoga
अथवा योगिनामेव कुले भवति धीमताम् ।
एतद्धि दुर्लभतरं लोके जन्म यदीदृशम् ॥
Athava yoginam eva kule bhavati dhimatam
Etad dhi durlabhataram loke janma yad idrisham
अथवा
or else
योगिनाम् एव कुले
in the family of yogis themselves
भवति
is born
धीमताम्
of the wise, the discerning
एतत् हि दुर्लभतरम्
this indeed is rarer
लोके जन्म यत् ईदृशम्
such a birth in this world

Krishna offers a second possibility — and says it is even more rare. The fallen yogi may be born not just into a good family, but into the family of wise yogis. A household where meditation, study, and spiritual practice are the daily rhythm of life.

Why is this rarer and more precious? Because a child born into such an environment absorbs sadhana like a language. No one has to convince them to sit quietly or pick up a scripture. The atmosphere does the work. It is like being born in a house full of music — you grow up singing without being taught.

Krishna calls this 'durlabhataram' — rarer still. Wealth and virtue are one thing. But a family steeped in genuine yogic wisdom? That is a rare gift, and it is the direct fruit of sincere practice left unfinished in a previous life.

Shlokas 6.41 and 6.42 describe two kinds of fortunate births. In both cases, the key message is the same: the incomplete yogi receives a good birth, never a bad one. The Gita's view of spiritual effort is deeply compassionate — no sincere step is wasted.

In Indian tradition, satsang (the company of the wise) is considered the greatest aid to spiritual growth. Birth into a family of yogis is satsang in its most concentrated form — present from the very first breath.

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