Chapter VI · Śloka 16
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः |
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ||
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन ||
nāty-aśnatas tu yogo 'sti na caikāntam anaśnataḥ |
na cāti-svapna-śīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna ||
na cāti-svapna-śīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna ||
Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who eats too little; not for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who keeps awake too long, O Arjuna.
Before describing the middle path, Krishna first marks its boundaries by exclusion. Extremes of indulgence and austerity both defeat the purpose. The body must be maintained neither as a pampered guest nor as a punished servant but as a well-kept instrument for the higher work.