Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga, verse 26
यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम्।
ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥
Say ityato yato niśhcharati manaśh chañchalam asthiram
tatas tato niyamyaitad ātmanyeva vaśhaṁ nayet
Translation
From whatever cause the restless and unsteady mind wanders away, let him restrain it from that and bring it under the control of the Self alone.
Swami Sivananda
The yogi should bring this mind under the subjugation of the Self itself, restraining it from all those causes that cause the restless, unsteady mind to wander away.
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
Wherever the fickle and unsteady mind wanders, one should subdue it and then bring it back under the control of the self alone.
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
By whatever things the shaky and unsteady mind strays, let him restrain it from those things and bring it back under the control of the Self alone.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
When the volatile and wavering mind wanders, let him restrain it and bring it back to its allegiance to the Self.
Shri Purohit Swami
यह अस्थिर और चञ्चल मन जहाँ-जहाँ विचरण करता है, वहाँ-वहाँसे हटाकर इसको एक परमात्मामें ही लगाये।
Swami Ramsukhdas
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।
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.
Verse map
How this verse connects to feelings, situations, ideas and other verses. Hover or tap to see why; these links are drafts awaiting review.
Speaks to
चाञ्चल्य RestlessnessHelps when
My mind won't settleIdeas
मनस् manas