In Bhagavad Gita 6.26, Krishna says that wherever the restless and unsteady mind wanders, one should restrain it and bring it back under the control of the Self.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यतो यतो निश्चरति
मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम्
ततस्ततो नियम्यैतद्
आत्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥ ६-२६ ॥
yato yato niścarati
manaścañcalamasthiram
tatastato niyamyaitad
ātmanyeva vaśaṃ nayet
English transliteration yato yato nishcharati
manashchanchalamasthiram
tatastato niyamyaitad
aatmanyeva vasham nayet ॥ 6.26 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Wherever the restless and unsteady mind wanders, from there one should restrain it and bring it back under the control of the Self alone.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यतः यतः yataḥ yataḥ | wherever |
| निश्चरति niścarati | wanders |
| मनः manaḥ | the mind |
| चञ्चलम् cañcalam | restless |
| अस्थिरम् asthiram | unsteady |
| ततः ततः tataḥ tataḥ | from there |
| नियम्य niyamya | restraining |
| एतत् etat | this |
| आत्मनि ātmani | in the Self |
| एव eva | alone |
| वशम् vaśam | under control |
| नयेत् nayet | should bring |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–to ya–to niś–ca–ra–ti 8 syllables ya-to ya-to nish-cha-ra-ti
- ma–naś–cañ–ca–la–mas–thi–ram | 8 syllables ma-nash-chan-cha-la-mas-thi-ram
- ta–tas–ta–to ni–yam–yai–tad– 8 syllables ta-tas-ta-to ni-yam-yai-tad-
- āt–man–ye–va va–śaṃ na–yet || 6-26 8 syllables aat-man-ye-va va-sham na-yet
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 6 Verse 26
Context
Krishna gives the essential technique of meditation (continuing 6.24–6.25).
Meaning
The mind is cañcala, restless, and asthira, unsteady. It will wander. Krishna does not say this is failure; he says that wherever it goes, bring it back. The practice is the return. Each time we bring the mind back to the Self, it becomes a little stronger and steadier.
This is perhaps the most practical meditation instruction in the Gita. Every meditator knows the wandering mind. The art is not in never wandering, but in returning, gently and without frustration, again and again. That returning is the practice.
In Practice
In meditation, count how many times you bring your mind back. Treat each return as a success, not a failure.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). 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.