Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 2 › Verse 60
Bhagavad Gītā 2.60: The senses are strong
यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः ।
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ॥
yatato hyapi kaunteya puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ
indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṃ manaḥ
Recitation: NehalDaveND (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0, adapted, original recording
Meaning
The turbulent senses, O son of Kuntī, forcibly carry away the mind even of a wise person who is striving. The verse is a realistic warning: knowledge alone does not guarantee self-mastery; it must be supported by practice (developed in 2.61).
For children
Krishna says: “Even wise grown-ups sometimes get pulled away by things they see and hear. So be patient with yourself, and keep practising.”
Kṛṣṇa explains why self-control needs care, before saying in 2.61 how to steady the senses.
Word by word
यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय — Even of a person who tries hard, Arjuna
- yatataḥ: of one who strives
- api: even
- kaunteya: son of Kuntī (Arjuna)
पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः — even of a wise person
- puruṣa: person
- vipaścit: wise, discerning
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि — the stormy senses
- indriya: sense
- pramāthin: turbulent, stirring
हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः — can carry the mind away by force
- haranti: carry away
- prasabham: by force
- manas: mind
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.