Gita 06.16 – Take responsibility for determining bodily balance

Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-16-take-responsibility-for-determining-bodily-balance/

nāty-aśnatas tu yogo ’sti
na caikāntam anaśnataḥ
na cāti-svapna-śīlasya
jāgrato naiva cārjuna
(BG 06.16)

Word-to-word
na — never; ati — too much; aśnataḥ — of one who eats; tu — but; yogaḥ — linking with the Supreme; asti — there is; na — nor; ca — also; ekāntam — overly; anaśnataḥ — abstaining from eating; na — nor; ca — also; ati — too much; svapna-śīlasya — of one who sleeps; jāgrataḥ — or one who keeps night watch too much; na — not; eva — ever; ca — and; arjuna — O Arjuna.

Translation
There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogī, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.

Explanation
Krishna emphasizes the importance of balance while practising yoga. The ultimate purpose of yoga is to transcend bodily misidentification and live in awareness of our true spiritual nature. However, this transition does not happen overnight. While we are striving toward that higher state, we must maintain a balanced lifestyle.
The activities mentioned here—eating and sleeping—are fundamental. They are essential for the very survival of the body. Just as plants require both sunlight and water to live, we too need both proper food and proper rest. Without them, the body will weaken, and without a healthy body, success in yoga becomes impossible.
As we discussed earlier, śarīraṁ khalu dharma-sādhanam — the body is indeed a tool for the pursuit of dharma. To the extent the body is disturbed or imbalanced, our ability to practise dharma is also disrupted.
Krishna uses the word ati here. Ati means “excess” or “extreme.” The Vedic subhāṣita says, ati sarvatra varjayet — excess should be avoided in all things. This applies directly to eating and sleeping: neither too much nor too little is helpful.
We can view these activities like the swing of a pendulum. The verse advises us to avoid both extremes — the extreme of too much and the extreme of too little. True balance lies in the middle.
What exactly counts as “too much” or “too little” will vary from person to person, because each of us has a distinct body with its own nature and needs. Through our own experience, we can usually tell what is excessive for us. When we overeat, we feel heavy, sleepy, lethargic, and de-energized — that itself is the indicator that we have crossed our limit. The same principle applies to sleep and other bodily needs as well.
In general, when we wake up after sleeping, we should feel fresh. Of course, there is always some natural human reluctance in getting up—we often just want to keep sleeping. But if there is intolerable tiredness upon waking, it usually means the body needs more rest. On the other hand, if we sleep too much, we may still feel tired, sluggish, and unrejuvenated. Excessive sleep can make us irritable, unenthusiastic, and drained.
This is why the practice of yoga is important. At one level, these are simply basic human requirements—learning to balance ourselves in daily life. This is one of the earliest lessons we encounter. How deeply we absorb it may differ from person to person, but all of us eventually understand that excess in any direction is harmful.
Krishna mentions this here not merely as a general guideline for balanced eating or sleeping, but specifically in the context of yoga. That broader yogic context is elaborated further in the next verse.
For now, in this verse, the focus is on how we determine balance. One practical method is to observe the results—learning through our own experience. Our body is like a vehicle entrusted to us. We must drive it; no one else can do that for us. Others may give advice on how to take care of it, and if something goes wrong, experts can certainly help us fix it—just as we take a damaged car to a garage. Similarly, when the body develops issues, we go to a doctor.
But in day-to-day living—the “hands-on driving”—we alone must learn how to manage our body. Observing its responses, understanding its limits, and adjusting accordingly is essential to living a balanced life and, ultimately, to progressing on the path of yoga.
To the extent that we learn how our body works—what it needs, what is too little, and what is too much—to that extent we can operate this bodily “machine” productively and effectively. But who determines what that balance is? First, we must recognize that discovering our own balance is our responsibility. Books, teachers, guides, and counsellors can certainly offer valuable insights, but ultimately, this is my body, and handling it well is my responsibility. When we accept this ownership, we naturally begin to observe and learn: “This is excessive; this is insufficient,” and in this way we gradually avoid extremes.
Another important point is that balance is not a fixed, frozen state. Life is dynamic, and therefore balance must also be dynamic. What is balanced for us today may not be balanced a year from now. At times, we may have deadlines or responsibilities that require shorter sleep. At other times, circumstances like scarcity of food may force adjustments. Dynamic balance means that sometimes we may intentionally go out of balance temporarily, with the intention of returning to balance afterward.
Consider cycling: the vertical position is the balanced state. But when we turn right, a tilt to the right becomes the correct state; when we turn left, a tilt to the left is appropriate. Remaining tilted in one direction after the turn would send us in circles. In cycling, balance is not always strict verticality—it is whatever position keeps us moving smoothly and safely.
Similarly, we may set general principles for ourselves: perhaps six or seven hours of sleep, or eating a certain amount. But instead of rigidly following fixed rules, we should periodically take stock. Sometimes the body may need more; sometimes less. By observing our body, taking responsibility for its care, and staying flexible according to time, place, and circumstance—while keeping the intention to return to equilibrium—we can maintain a healthy, dynamic balance. Just as a cyclist leans when needed and then straightens, we too can adjust without losing our overall direction.
Thank you.