Gita 18.33
Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
धृत्या यया धारयते मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः । योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या धृतिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥३३॥
dhṛtyā yayā dhārayate manaḥ-prāṇendriya-kriyāḥ | yogenāvyabhicāriṇyā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī ||33||
In essence: Sattvic firmness is the unwavering resolve that holds mind, breath, and senses steady through the practice of yoga—an unshakeable steadfastness that never deviates from the path.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "How can firmness be 'unwavering'? Everyone has moments of weakness."
Guru: "True unwavering dhṛti is indeed rare and represents an advanced state. What we cultivate is increasing steadiness—fewer lapses, quicker recovery, deeper commitment. Even realized masters sometimes describe their path as having had struggles. But they point toward the ideal: a firmness so established that it truly never deviates. We approach this asymptotically, each stage more stable than the last."
Sadhak: "Why are mind, prāṇa, and senses listed together?"
Guru: "They are the three domains that must be regulated for spiritual progress. The senses (indriyas) are the outer gates—what we perceive and how we respond. Prāṇa, the vital force, governs the energy body and is linked to both physical vitality and mental states. The mind (manas) is the inner processor of experience. True dhṛti holds all three: senses controlled, energy balanced, mind focused. They interconnect—controlling one influences the others."
Sadhak: "Is this the same as suppression or repression?"
Guru: "A crucial distinction. Suppression is forcing down what still pushes up—the desires remain but are blocked, creating inner conflict and eventual eruption. Sattvic dhṛti through yoga is different: it cultivates a state in which the mind, prāṇa, and senses naturally tend toward stillness and higher focus. The analogy is domesticated versus wild horses: suppression is chaining a wild horse; yoga trains the horse until it naturally follows direction."
Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.
🌅 Daily Practice
Establish your dhṛti for the day: commit to one specific practice you will maintain unwavering—perhaps twenty minutes of meditation, perhaps mindful breathing at set intervals. Hold this commitment as yoga practice, not mere willpower.
When you feel dhṛti weakening—desire to skip practice, impulse to scatter attention—notice the mind, prāṇa, and senses moving toward distraction. Take a slow breath (prāṇa), observe the impulse without acting (mind), redirect attention to present task (senses). This is yoga in action.
Assess your steadfastness: 'Did I hold to my commitments today? Where did I waver, and what triggered the wavering?' Plan for tomorrow—not harsh resolutions but realistic commitments you can genuinely maintain. Sustainable, increasing steadiness is the path to sattvic dhṛti.