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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.34
चञ्चलं हि मन: कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् ।
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥ ३४ ॥
cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa
pramāthi balavad dṛḍham
tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye
vāyor iva su-duṣkaram
The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
The mind is restless, turbulent, stubborn, and strong—harder to control than the wind.
Prabhupāda explains that intelligence should guide the mind, but the mind often overpowers it.
Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa humbly and engage the mind fully in Kṛṣṇa. This is the easiest way to control it.
Nature of mind
Restless and turbulent – like wind (Analogy)
Strong and obstinate
Mind is restless and turbulent like the wind –
For a man in the practical world who has to fight so many opposing elements, it is very difficult to control the mind
Artificially one may establish a mental equilibrium towards friends and enemies, but ultimately no worldly man can do so, for this is more difficult than controlling the raging wind
Mind as strong and obstinate — Intelligence is supposed to direct the mind but the mind often overcomes one’s own intelligence
Analogy: Just like an acute infection may surpass the efficacy of medicine, a strong mind may overcome one’s own intelligence
Analogy — Mind as driving instrument of a chariot (Ref. Katha Upanisad 1.3.3–1.3.4)
Individual soul – Passenger of the chariot
Body – Chariot
Intelligence – Driver
Mind – Driving instrument
Senses – Horses
Easiest way to control the mind — Chant Hare Krishna in all humility
As suggested by Lord Caitanya
Ref. SB 9.4.18-20 “sa vai manah...” Ambarisha Maharaja fixed his mind on Krishna
Texts 6.33 & 6.34
Arjuna thus points out why maintaining this outlook is so problematic.
Texts 6.34 & 6.35
Texts 6.33 and 6.34 are Arjuna’s response to Krishna’s question: “Why don’t you just control your mind with your intelligence?” The next verse answers the following question: “If controlling the mind is possible, by what means can I do it?”
Vulnerability and struggle
Although control of mind is undoubtedly a difficult process, nevertheless...
Control of mind is essential and obtainable only by constant practice and detachment.
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
The mind
Arjuna describes its restless nature.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
Where does my mind repeatedly pull me away from the purpose I claim to value?
Notice one recurring distraction and bring attention back to Krishna.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.