praśāntātmā vigata-bhīr brahmacāri-vrate sthitaḥ manaḥ saṁyamya mac-citto yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ
"...with a peaceful self, fearless, established in the vow of brahmacharya, controlling the mind, thinking of Me, let the yogi sit, devoted to Me as the supreme goal."
What This Means:
The inner attitude: be peaceful, release fear, practice self-control (brahmacharya). Control the mind and fix it on the Divine. Sit in meditation with the Divine as your highest aim.
Going Deeper:
Prashanta (peaceful) and vigata-bhih (fearless) describe the emotional foundation. Brahmacharya here means conservation of energy and self-control. Mat-chitta and mat-para (mind on Me, devoted to Me) show that yogic practice culminates in devotion.
How To Apply This:
Come to meditation with peace, not anxiety. Release fear of failure or expectation of specific experiences. Practice energy conservation (moderation in all things). Make your highest aim the Divine, however you understand it.
Key Sanskrit Terms: