Gita : Ch-6.Slo-26.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-6. ( Dhyana-yogam )


Slokam-26. ( If the mind is shaky and unsteady, then what Sadhaka has to do ? Lord declares the action to overcome the situation.....)

{ From whatever and wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self.}



yato   yato   niscarati    manascancalamasthiram,



tatastato    niyamyaitad    atmanyeva    vasam    nayet.



cancalam   =   always    moving   ( flickering );

astihiram   =  unsteady   mind;

yatah   yatah   =   whatever   ( to the )   vishayas   (  objects );

niscarati   =   run    after,   verily   agitated;

tatah   tatah   =   from  there,   thereafter  (  from  the  vishayas )   all;

etat    niyamya   =    not    allow,   turn    back    them,   and   after;

atmany    eva   vasam    nayet   =   bringing    one's    own   custody,   then   fix  it  (  the   mind ) in   the   Self    ( in   his   Atma  only).



Now Lord Krishna a specific example that if the mind losing its equilibrium begins to waver due to the influence of rajas or passion. Then the mind should be apprehended and brought securely under control guided back to focus on the atma or soul in a serene meditative state. So the conclusion is that whatever object tempts the unsteady mind to pursue it; from that very same object one must withdraw the restless mind and steady solely in the eternal atma.


A question may be raised that if the controlled mind becomes suddenly tempestuous and restless what should be done? Lord Krishna answers this question here. The mind must be immediately rescued back from whatever sense object that caused the mind to deviate and this should be done again and again until the mind becomes fixed in the atma or soul.


Whatever also means wherever. Wherever the mind turns to in pursuit of any external object whatever it should be diverted back and re-routed within to the atma or soul inside and exclusively installed reside there. This is Lord Krishna's meaning.


Lord Krishna is explaining that whither ever so ever the fickle mind flutters and flickers about to wander in infatuation away from the atma or soul in pursuit of the objects of the senses, let all efforts be made to withdraw the mind therefrom and guide it back persuading it convincingly the fact that the atma itself is the supreme goal of happiness.

To be continued  ...