What this hexagram is about
Mountain upon mountain — the image of holding still and quiet. Stop when it is time to stop and go no further than is fit; rest content in one's part and crave nothing beyond it — for only a settled heart can move and rest aright.
The Judgment 卦辞
艮其背，不获其身，行其庭，不见其人，无咎。
Keeping still at the back, so that one no longer feels the body; walking in the courtyard, one does not see the people there. No fault.
The Image 大象传
《象》曰：兼山，艮；君子以思不出其位。
Mountain upon mountain, keeping still; so the noble person lets his thoughts not stray beyond his place.
Commentary on the Lines 小象传
艮其趾，未失正也。
Keeping the toes still — not yet straying from the right.
The Six Lines (hover over the figure above)
Six at the top敦艮，吉。
To rest in stillness with honest, weighty sincerity — stopping at what is highest, steadfast and unmoved — good fortune.
Six in the fifth place艮其辅，言有序，悔亡。
Held still at the jaws — speech kept in measure and not loosed at random; remorse fades away.
Nine in the fourth place艮其身，无咎。
Holding the whole body still, so that it rests unmoved and unstirred — there is no fault.
Six in the third place艮其限，列其夤，厉熏心。
Held still at the waist — forcing to a halt what ought to move, so that high and low are torn apart; as the flesh of the spine splits, there is danger, and dread sears the heart.
Six in the second place艮其腓，不拯其随，其心不快。
Held still at the calves; unable to rescue, one can only be carried along by those above, and the heart is uneasy at it.
Initial Nine艮其趾，无咎，利永贞。
Held still at the toes — checking the movement at its very start; there is no fault, and it is fitting to hold long to what is right.