In Bhagavad Gita 6.34, Arjuna describes the mind as restless, turbulent, powerful and stubborn, and says controlling it is as difficult as controlling the wind.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण
प्रमाथि बलवद् दृढम्
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये
वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥ ६-३४ ॥
cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa
pramāthi balavad dṛḍham
tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye
vāyoriva suduṣkaram
English transliteration chanchalam hi manah krishna
pramaathi balavad dridham
tasyaaham nigraham manye
vaayoriva sudushkaram ॥ 6.34 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For the mind is restless, turbulent, powerful and stubborn, O Krishna. I think it is as difficult to control as the wind.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| चञ्चलम् cañcalam | restless |
| हि hi | indeed |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
| कृष्ण kṛṣṇa | O Kṛṣṇa |
| प्रमाथि pramāthi | turbulent |
| बलवत् balavat | powerful |
| दृढम् dṛḍham | stubborn |
| तस्य tasya | of it |
| अहम् aham | I |
| निग्रहम् nigraham | control |
| मन्ये manye | think |
| वायोः vāyoḥ | of the wind |
| इव iva | like |
| सुदुष्करम् suduṣkaram | very difficult |
Word-wise Chanting
- cañ–ca–laṃ hi ma–naḥ kṛṣ–ṇa 8 syllables chan-cha-lam hi ma-nah krish-na
- pra–mā–thi ba–la–vad dṛ–ḍham | 8 syllables pra-maa-thi ba-la-vad dri-dham
- tas–yā–haṃ nig–ra–haṃ man–ye 8 syllables tas-yaa-ham nig-ra-ham man-ye
- vā–yo–ri–va su–duṣ–ka–ram || 6-34 8 syllables vaa-yo-ri-va su-dush-ka-ram
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 34
Context
Arjuna elaborates on his doubt from 6.33.
Meaning
Arjuna gives four adjectives for the mind: cañcala, restless; pramāthin, churning and agitating; balavat, strong; dṛḍha, obstinate. Controlling it seems like trying to hold the wind. Anyone who has tried to meditate recognises this description.
The comparison with the wind is apt: invisible, ever-moving and impossible to grasp with the hands. Arjuna’s frank description makes Krishna’s answer in the next verse all the more meaningful.
In Practice
Observe your mind for five minutes without trying to control it. Notice how restless and wind-like it is, and accept this as the starting point.
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.