6-16 to 6-17

नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तम् अनश्नतः ।
न चाति स्वप्न शीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव च अर्जुन ॥ १६ ॥
युक्त आहार विहारस्य युक्त चेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।
युक्त स्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःख हा ॥ १७ ॥

nAtyaznatastu yogo'sti na caikAntam anaznataH |
na cAti svapna zIlasya jAgrato naiva ca arjuna || 16 ||
yukta AhAra vihArasya yukta ceSTasya karmasu |
yukta svapnAvabodhasya yogo bhavati duHkha hA || 17 ||

अर्जुन [arjuna] Arjuna, योगः नास्ति [yogaH nAsti] the quest for the realization of the Self is not अत्यश्नतस्तु [atyaznatastu] for one who eats excessively. अनश्नतः [anaznataH] A person who does not eat न चैकान्त्यम् [na caikAntyam] will not have a singularity of purpose either. न [na] It is not अति स्वप्न शीलस्य च [ati svapna zIlasya ca] for a person who sleeps excessively either. जाग्रतो नैव च [jAgrato naiva ca] Neither is it for a person who is awake all the time. योगः [yogaH] This quest दुःख हा भवति [duHkha hA bhavati] will be the destroyer of sorrow युक्त आहार विहारस्य [yukta AhAra vihArasya] for one who eats and enjoys appropriately, कर्मसु युक्त चेष्टस्य [karmasu yukta ceSTasya] and exerts himself appropriately in his work.

Eating too much, or not eating at all – both of these are obstacles to realizing the Self. Getting diverted excessively goes against realizing the Self. So does the avoidance of all leisure. Similarly, sleeping too much, sleeping too less, exerting ourselves beyond limit and avoiding exertion are obstacles to realizing the Self.

The realization of the Self happens to a person who exercises control. This person is prudent in eating, leisure, exertion, in sleep and in staying awake. Such a realization of the Self destroys all bondage and limitation.