Shrimad Bhagavad-gita

by Narayana Gosvami | 2013 | 327,105 words

The Bhagavad-gita Verse 6.35, English translation, including the Vaishnava commentaries Sarartha-varsini-tika, Prakashika-vritti and Rasika-ranjana (excerpts). This is verse 35 from the chapter 6 called “Dhyana-yoga (Yoga through the Path of Meditation)”

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 6.35:

श्री भगवान् उवाच–
असंशयं महा-बाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् ।
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥ ३५ ॥

śrī bhagavān uvāca
asaṃśayaṃ mahā-bāho mano durnigrahaṃ calam |
abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate
|| 35 ||

śrī bhagavān uvāca–the all-opulent Lord said; asaṃśayam–without doubt; mahā-bāho–O mighty-armed Arjuna;manaḥ–the mind; durnigraham–is hard to control; calam–unsteady; abhyāsena–by practice; tu–but; kaunteya–O son of Kuntī; vairāgyeṇa–by renunciation; ca–and; gṛhyate–it can be controlled.

Śrī Bhagavān said: O mighty-armed son of Kuntī, undoubtedly the mind is restless and most difficult to control, but by constant practice and renunciation, it can be checked.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

By speaking this verse beginning with the word asaṃśayam, Śrī Bhagavān accepts Arjuna’s statement and allays his doubt. “What you have said is true. Still, even a chronic disease can certainly be cured if one regularly takes medicine according to the prescription of an expert physician, even though the cure may take some time. In the same way, the uncontrollable mind can be subdued by the regular practice of yoga in accordance with the instructions of a bona fide guru, by constantly cultivating meditation on Parameśvara (dhyāna-yoga) and by renunciation.”

This is also stated in Pātañjala-sūtra (12): “abhyāsa-vairāgyābhyāṃ tan-nirodhaḥ–by constant practice and true renunciation the tendencies of the mind and heart (citta) can be controlled.”

“O Mahā-bāho (mighty-armed one), you have not only defeated many great heroes in battle‚ but you have also pleased Lord Śiva, who carries the trident. But what is the use of all this? O crest jewel of all great heroes, your name, Mahā-bāhuḥ, will only be appropriate if you can conquer the greatest hero, the mind, with the weapon of yoga. O son of Kuntī, have no fear in this regard. You are the son of My father’s sister, and therefore, it is My duty to help you.”

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