Gita 6.16
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः।
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन।।
nāty-aśnatas tu yogo 'sti na caikāntam anaśnataḥ na cāti-svapna-śīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna
"Yoga is not for one who eats too much or too little, nor for one who sleeps too much or stays awake too much, O Arjuna."
What This Means:
Balance is essential. If you overeat or starve yourself, yoga won't work. If you sleep too much or deprive yourself of sleep, yoga won't work. The middle path is necessary.
Going Deeper:
This corrects extreme asceticism. Some seekers thought self-torture was spiritual. Krishna says no—extremes in either direction obstruct yoga. The body is the vehicle for spiritual practice and needs balanced care.
How To Apply This:
Don't use spiritual practice as an excuse for self-neglect or self-indulgence. Eat moderately, sleep adequately. Physical balance supports mental balance. Take care of your body—it's your meditation seat.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Ati-ashnata= One who eats too muchAnashnata= One who doesn't eat (fasting excessively)Ati-svapna-shila= One who sleeps too muchJagrata= One who stays awake (too much)