Bhagavad Gita 18.33

dhṛtyā yayā dhārayate

manaḥ-prāṇendriya-kriyāḥ

yogenāvyabhicāriṇyā

dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī

 

That determination which sustains;

Mind, life-breath, senses—all it restrains;

Through yoga practice without deviation,

Pure indeed is that determination.

 

My dear Lord, for any growth journey in life, be it toward material advancement or toward spiritual enrichment, one of the most elusive assets is determination. Help me stay steady in the pursuit of the things that are worthwhile.

O omnipotent Lord, it is you who are the Lord of my senses and mind, and it is you who can hold them steady so that I can pursue anything worthwhile. Whenever I follow any process for strengthening my determination, such as the time-honored processes of yoga, it is you who infuse those processes with potency. Among all the yogas that grant me access to your supreme power, let me focus on the devotion connection, for it is not just the most empowering, but also the most enlightening. It doesn’t just help me consistently pursue what I think is worthwhile; it also helps me clearly perceive what is truly worthwhile.

O benevolent Lord, please purify my aspirations so I come to realize that among all things worth pursuing, you are the most worthwhile. And when I start prioritizing devotion, I beg you to bless me with a determination that is robust yet realistic. Even if my mind and senses stray away, let them not stay away.

O unfailing Lord, may my determination thus be without deviation through devotion, and may my devotion be without deviation through determination.

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18.33 O son of Pṛthā, that determination which is unbreakable, which is sustained with steadfastness by yoga practice, and which thus controls the activities of the mind, life and senses is determination in the mode of goodness.