In Bhagavad Gita 2.67, Krishna says that when the mind follows the wandering senses, it carries away one’s wisdom, as the wind carries away a boat on the water.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां
यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां
वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ॥ २-६७ ॥
indriyāṇāṃ hi caratāṃ
yanmano’nuvidhīyate
tadasya harati prajñāṃ
vāyurnāvamivāmbhasi
English transliteration indriyaanaam hi charataam
yanmano’nuvidheeyate
tadasya harati prajnaam
vaayurnaavamivaambhasi ॥ 2.67 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When the mind runs after the wandering senses, it carries away one’s wisdom, just as the wind carries away a boat on the water.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इन्द्रियाणाम् indriyāṇām | of the senses |
| हि hi | indeed |
| चरताम् caratām | wandering |
| यत् yat | which |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
| अनुविधीयते anuvidhīyate | follows |
| तत् tat | that |
| अस्य asya | his |
| हरति harati | carries away |
| प्रज्ञाम् prajñām | wisdom |
| वायुः vāyuḥ | wind |
| नावम् nāvam | boat |
| इव iva | like |
| अम्भसि ambhasi | on the water |
Word-wise Chanting
- in–dri–yā–ṇāṃ hi ca–ra–tāṃ 8 syllables in-dri-yaa-naam hi cha-ra-taam
- yan–ma–no–‘nu–vi–dhī–ya–te | 8 syllables yan-ma-no-‘nu-vi-dhee-ya-te
- ta–das–ya ha–ra–ti pra–jñāṃ 8 syllables ta-das-ya ha-ra-ti pra-jnaam
- vā–yur–nā–va–mi–vām–bha–si || 2-67 8 syllables vaa-yur-naa-va-mi-vaam-bha-si
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 2 Verse 67
Context
Krishna gives a vivid image of what happens to the undisciplined mind described in 2.66.
Meaning
Wisdom is like a boat; the senses are like gusts of wind. If the mind follows every sense impression, it is blown off course, and wisdom drifts away. Even a single sense, if it carries the mind with it, is enough to sweep wisdom away.
The image invites us to think of the mind as the helm of a boat. We cannot stop the winds of sense experience, but we can keep the helm steady. A sailor does not curse the wind but learns to steer through it. Spiritual practice is the learning of this steering.
In Practice
Today, when you notice your attention being pulled by a sight, sound or thought, gently bring it back to what you intended to do, like correcting a boat’s course.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.