Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 15: The Supreme Person
Bhagavad Gita 15.11
यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम् ।
यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतसः ॥
yatanto yoginaścainaṃ paśyantyātmanyavasthitam | yatanto'pyakṛtātmāno nainaṃ paśyantyacetasaḥ ||
Yogis who strive see it dwelling within themselves. But those who lack discernment, and whose selves are not yet ready, do not see it even though they strive.
Modern context
Effort alone is not enough. Yogis who strive see the self within; but those who strive without inner readiness do not, however hard they try. This is honest about the limits of effort. Preparation matters: a settled mind, a clean heart, some discernment. Without those, even great effort can go round in circles. With them, effort bears fruit.