Chapter 6, Verse 34
चञ्चलं हि मन: कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् | तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥34॥
cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham | tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva su-duṣkaram
"For, O Krishna, the mind is unsteady, turbulent, strong and obstinate. I consider its control to be as greatly difficult as controlling the wind."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 6.34 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 6.34 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
Arjuna describes the four-fold difficulty of the mind: it is 'Cancalam' (flickering), 'Pramathi' (agitating/turbulent), 'Balavad' (powerful), and 'Dridham' (stubborn). He uses the metaphor of the wind to show that just as one cannot easily bottle up a storm, the internal psychological storm is equally hard to tame. By addressing the Lord as 'Krishna' (the one who attracts), Arjuna hints that only a higher attraction can pull the mind away from its lower agitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 6.34?
For, O Krishna, the mind is unsteady, turbulent, strong and obstinate. I consider its control to be as greatly difficult as controlling the wind.