अथ चित्तं समाधातुं न शक्नोषि मयि स्थिरम् | अभ्यासयोगेन ततो मामिच्छाप्तुं धनञ्जय ||१२-९||
atha cittaṃ samādhātuṃ na śaknoṣi mayi sthiram . abhyāsayogena tato māmicchāptuṃ dhanañjaya ||12-9||
Chapter 12 · Verse 9
Bhakti Yoga
भक्तियोग
In plain words
Abhyasa Yoga Abhyasa is constant practice to steady the mind and fix it on one point the practice of repeatedly withdrawing the mind from all sorts of sensual objects and fixing it again and again on one particular object or the Self. The constant effort to separate or detach oneself from the illusory five sheaths and identify oneself with the Atman is also Abhyasa. If you are not able to fix your mind and intellect wholly on the Lord all the time then do it for some time at least.
Translation
12.9 If now you are unable to focus your mind on Me, then seek to reach Me, O Arjuna, by the practice of repetition.
Meaning
Abhyasa Yoga Abhyasa is constant practice to steady the mind and fix it on one point the practice of repeatedly withdrawing the mind from all sorts of sensual objects and fixing it again and again on one particular object or the Self. The constant effort to separate or detach oneself from the illusory five sheaths and identify oneself with the Atman is also Abhyasa. If you are not able to fix your mind and intellect wholly on the Lord all the time then do it for some time at least. If your mind wanders much try to fix it on the Lord through the continous practice of remembrance. Resort to the worship of the images of God feeling His Living Presence in them. This will also help you. Why did Lord Krishna address Arjuna by the name Dhananjaya here Surely there is some significance. Arjuna conered many people and brought immense wealth for the Rajasuya Yajna performed by Yudhishthira. For such a man of great powers and splendour it is not difficult to coner this mind and obtain the spiritual wealth of knowledge of the Self. This is what Lord Krishna meant when He addressed Arjuna by the name Dhananjaya.
Word by word
अथ if चित्तम् the mind समाधातुम् to fix न not शक्नोषि (thou) art able मयि in Me स्थिरम् steadily अभ्यासयोगेन by the Yoga of constant practice ततः them माम् Me इच्छ wish आप्तुम् to reach धनञ्जय O Arjuna.