Bhagavad-gītā 6.34

Explain simply

Speaker: Arjuna

चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद् दृढम् ।
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥३४॥

cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa
pramāthi balavad dṛḍham
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye
vāyor iva su-duṣkaram

Word for word (synonyms)

cañcalam
flickering
hi
certainly
manaḥ
mind
kṛṣṇa
O Kṛṣṇa
pramāthi
agitating
balavat
strong
dṛḍham
obstinate
tasya
its
aham
I
nigraham
subduing
manye
think
vāyoḥ
of the wind
iva
like
suduṣkaram
difficult

Translation

For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind.

Purport

The mind is so strong and obstinate that it sometimes overcomes the intelligence, although mind is supposed to be subservient to the intelligence. For a man in the practical world who has to fight so many opposing elements, it is certainly very difficult to control the mind. Artificially, one may establish a mental equilibrium toward both friend and enemy, but ultimately no worldly man can do so, for this is more difficult than controlling the raging wind. In the Vedic literatures it is said:

ātmānaṁ rathinaṁ viddhi śarīraṁ ratham eva ca
buddhintu sārathiṁ viddhi manaḥ pragraham eva ca
indriyāṇi hayānāhur viṣayāṁs teṣu gocarān
ātmendriya-mano-yukto bhoktety āhur manīṣiṇaḥ.

"The individual is the passenger in the car of the material body, and intelligence is the driver. Mind is the driving instrument, and the senses are the horses. The self is thus the enjoyer or sufferer in the association of the mind and senses. So it is understood by great thinkers." Intelligence is supposed to direct the mind, but the mind is so strong and obstinate that it often overcomes even one's own intelligence. Such a strong mind is supposed to be controlled by the practice of yoga, but such practice is never practical for a worldly person like Arjuna. And what can we say of modern man? The simile used here is appropriate: one cannot capture the blowing wind. And it is even more difficult to capture the turbulent mind. The easiest way to control the mind, as suggested by Lord Caitanya, is chanting "Hare Kṛṣṇa," the great mantra for deliverance, in all humility. The method prescribed is sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ: one must engage one's mind fully in Kṛṣṇa. Only then will there remain no other engagements to agitate the mind.

What this verse teaches

Arjuna's concern

In thematic compilations 1

Self-control

  • Mind is very powerful, restless, turbulent, obstinate and strong (6.34 cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa...)
  • Mind as the reins of the chariot of body with five senses as the horses (6.34 P)
  • Role of aṣṭāṅga yoga: This process employs meditation as a means to control mind and senses. However, Arjuna rejects this process as very difficult. (6.33-34 yo 'yaṁ yogas tvayā proktaḥ...)
Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures 2
Articles on this verse 1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.