Bhagavad Gita · Dhyana Yoga — The Yoga of Meditation

Chapter 6, Verse 26

"Bhagavad Gita 6.26" — meaning and explanation.

Meaning

6.26 From whatever cause the restless and unsteady mind wanders away, from that let him restrain it and bring it under the control of the Self alone.

।।6.26।। यह चंचल और अस्थिर मन जिन कारणों से (विषयों में) विचरण करता है, उनसे संयमित करके उसे आत्मा के ही वश में लावे अर्थात् आत्मा में स्थिर करे।।

Explanation

6.26 यतःयतः from whatever cause? निश्चरति wanders away? मनः mind? चञ्चलम् restless? अस्थिरम् unsteady? ततःततः from that? नियम्य having restrained? एतत् this? आत्मनि in the Self? एव alone? वशम् (under) control? नयेत् let (him) bring.Commentary In this verse the Lord gives the method to control the mind. Just as you drag the bull again and again to your house when it runs out? so also you will have to drag the mind to your point or centre or Lakshya again and again when it runs towards the external objects. If you give good cotton seed extract? sugar? plantains? etc.? to the bull? it will not turn away but will remain in your house. Even so if you make the mind taste the eternal bliss of the Self within little by little by the practice of concentration? it will gradually abide in the Self only and will not run towards the external objects of the senses. Sound and the other objects only make the mind restless and unsteady. By knowing the defects of the objects of sensual pleasure? by understanding their illusory nature? by the cultivation of discrimination between the Real and the unreal and also dispassion? and by making the mind understand the glory and the splendour of the Self you can wean the mind entirely away from sensual objects and fix it firmly on the Self.

Life Lesson

Study Bhagavad Gita 6.26 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

Context

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, verse 26, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.

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