Verse 6.34
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम्। तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम्॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva su-duṣkaram
Word-by-Word Meanings
cañcalam-restless
manaḥ-mind
pramāthi-turbulent
balavat-strong
dṛḍham-obstinate
nigraham-subduing
vāyoḥ iva-like the wind
su-duṣkaram-very difficult
Translation
The mind is restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate, O Krishna. I consider controlling it as difficult as controlling the wind.
Commentary
Arjuna's famous declaration about the mind's nature uses four adjectives: cañcala (flickering), pramāthi (agitating), balavat (powerful), and dṛḍha (stubborn). The wind analogy perfectly captures the mind's intangible yet forceful nature. Krishna does not dismiss this concern but validates it in his response.
Themes
yogaatman