Gita map, what troubles us
चाञ्चल्य Restlessness
A mind that will not settle. Linked to 9 of the core shlokas.
1. See how it works
- 2.60
यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः।
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ॥yatato hyapi kaunteya puruṣhasya vipaśhchitaḥ
The turbulent senses, O Arjuna, can violently carry away the mind of a wise person, even though they are striving to control them.
indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṁ manaḥ - 2.66
नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना।
न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम् ॥nāsti buddhir-ayuktasya na chāyuktasya bhāvanā
There is no knowledge of the Self for the unsteady, and no meditation is possible for the unsteady, and no peace for the unmeditative, and how can there be happiness for one who has no peace?
na chābhāvayataḥ śhāntir aśhāntasya kutaḥ sukham - 3.42
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः ॥indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ
They say that the senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is superior to the mind; and He (the Self) is superior even to the intellect.
manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ
2. What answers it
3. Verses to practise
- 6.26
यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम्।
ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥yato yato niśhcharati manaśh chañchalam asthiram
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.
tatas tato niyamyaitad ātmanyeva vaśhaṁ nayet - 6.5
उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet
One should raise oneself by one's own self alone; let not one lower oneself; for the self alone is one's own friend, and the self alone is one's own enemy.
ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ - 3.8
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः।
शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ॥niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ
Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction.
śharīra-yātrāpi cha te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ - 13.8
अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्।
आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः ॥amānitvam adambhitvam ahinsā kṣhāntir ārjavam
Humility, unpretentiousness, non-injury, forgiveness, uprightness, service to the teacher, purity, steadfastness, and self-control.
āchāryopāsanaṁ śhauchaṁ sthairyam ātma-vinigrahaḥ