In Bhagavad Gita 6.35, Krishna agrees that the mind is restless and hard to control, but says it can be mastered by practice and detachment.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
असंशयं महाबाहो
मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय
वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥ ६-३५ ॥
asaṃśayaṃ mahābāho
mano durnigrahaṃ calam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya
vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate
English transliteration asamshayam mahaabaaho
mano durnigraham chalam
abhyaasena tu kaunteya
vairaagyena cha grihyate ॥ 6.35 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: Undoubtedly, O mighty-armed, the mind is restless and hard to control. But by practice and by detachment, O son of Kunti, it can be controlled.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| असंशयम् asaṃśayam | undoubtedly |
| महाबाहो mahābāho | O mighty-armed |
| मनः manaḥ | the mind |
| दुर्निग्रहम् durnigraham | hard to control |
| चलम् calam | restless |
| अभ्यासेन abhyāsena | by practice |
| तु tu | but |
| कौन्तेय kaunteya | O son of Kuntī |
| वैराग्येण vairāgyeṇa | by detachment |
| च ca | and |
| गृह्यते gṛhyate | is controlled |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–saṃ–śa–yaṃ ma–hā–bā–ho 8 syllables a-sam-sha-yam ma-haa-baa-ho
- ma–no dur–nig–ra–haṃ ca–lam | 8 syllables ma-no dur-nig-ra-ham cha-lam
- abh–yā–se–na tu kaun–te–ya 8 syllables abh-yaa-se-na tu kaun-te-ya
- vai–rāg–ye–ṇa ca gṛh–ya–te || 6-35 8 syllables vai-raag-ye-na cha grih-ya-te
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 35
Context
Krishna answers Arjuna’s doubt (6.33–6.34) with the essential method.
Meaning
Krishna first agrees completely: the mind is indeed restless and difficult. Then he gives the two keys: abhyāsa, repeated, steady practice, and vairāgya, detachment or dispassion toward the objects that distract the mind. Practice gives direction; detachment removes the pull of distraction.
These two words, abhyāsa and vairāgya, are also the foundation of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras. They work together. Practice without detachment is constantly undermined by desires; detachment without practice lacks a positive focus. Together they make mastery possible.
In Practice
Choose one daily practice (abhyāsa) and one distraction to reduce (vairāgya). Commit to both for a month.
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.