Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 34

English Translation

The mind is very restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate, O Krishna. It seems to me that controlling it is as difficult as controlling the wind.

Detailed Commentary

।।6.34।। Explanation— 'Chanchalam hi manah Krishna pramaathi balavaddhridham' - Here, addressing Bhagavan as 'Krishna', Arjuna seems to be saying, "O Lord! If You mercifully draw this mind and attach it to Yourself, then it can be fixed. For me, controlling it is very difficult. Because this mind is very restless (chanchala). Along with restlessness, it is also 'pramaathi', meaning it agitates the sādhaka (spiritual aspirant) from their state. It is also very stubborn and powerful." Bhagavan has described five abodes of 'Kāma' (desire): the senses, mind, intellect, objects of enjoyment, and the Self itself. In reality, Kāma resides within the Self, meaning in the knot of consciousness and matter (Chit-Jada Granthi), and it is perceived in the senses, mind, intellect, and objects. Until Kāma is completely relinquished from the Self, it continues to manifest in the senses and so forth. But when it is relinquished from the Self, it no longer resides in the senses and others. This proves that as long as Kāma remains in the Self, the mind continues to torment the sādhaka. Hence, the mind has been described as 'pramaathi'. When desire enters the mind and senses, it greatly disturbs the sādhaka, making it impossible for them to remain in their spiritual state. Due to Kāma residing in the Self, the mind has a strong attraction towards sense objects. Therefore, the mind is called `dṛḍha` (resolute/stubborn). This resoluteness of the mind is very powerful, which is why the mind is called `balavat` (powerful). The implication is that the mind is extremely powerful, forcibly dragging the sādhaka towards sense objects. Scriptures state that the mind alone is the cause of liberation and bondage for humans: 'Mana eva manuṣyāṇāṁ kāraṇaṁ bandhamokṣayoḥ' (The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation for human beings). However, this agitating quality (pramathanaśīlatā), resoluteness (dṛḍhatā), and power (balavattā) of the mind persist only until the sādhaka completely eradicates Kāma from within themselves. When the sādhaka becomes free from Kāma (kāmarahita), then no matter how much contact they have with sense objects, it does not affect them. Then the mind's agitating quality and other attributes are destroyed. The mind's restlessness (chanchalatā) is also an impediment only as long as a trace of Kāma remains within the Self. When the last trace of Kāma is fully relinquished, the mind's restlessness also ceases to be an impediment. 'Tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyoriva suduṣkaram' - To control (nigraha) this restless, agitative, resolute, and powerful mind is exceedingly difficult. Just as no one can grasp the wind (vāyu) moving in the sky within their fist, so too no one can grasp this mind. Therefore, I consider its control (nigraha) to be extremely difficult. Now, in the next verse, Bhagavan, acknowledging Arjuna's assertion, will explain the means to control the mind.