BHAGAVAD-GITA 6:34

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 6:34

 

cancalam hi manah krsna

pramathi balavad drdham

tasyaham nigraham manye

vayor iva su-duskaram

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

cancalam--flickering; hi--certainly; manah--mind; krsna--O Krsna;

pramathi--agitating; bala-vat--strong; drdham--obstinate; tasya--its;

aham--I; nigraham--subduing; manye--think; vayoh--of the wind;

iva--like; su-duskaram--difficult.

 

TRANSLATION

 

For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O

Krsna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling

the wind.

 

PURPORT

 

The mind is so strong and obstinate that it sometimes overcomes the

intelligence, although the 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

literature (Katha Upanisad 1.3.3-4) it is said:

 

atmanam rathinam viddhi

sariram ratham eva ca

buddhim tu sarathim viddhi

manah pragraham eva ca

 

indriyani hayan ahur

visayams tesu go-caran

atmendriya-mano-yuktam

bhoktety ahur manisinah

 

"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, as an acute infection may surpass the efficacy of

medicine. 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

Krsna," the great mantra for deliverance, in all humility. The method

prescribed is sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayoh: one must engage one's

mind fully in Krsna. Only then will there remain no other engagements

to agitate the mind.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.