Gita 06.36 – Mind control is essential – and possible by proper process

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asaṁyatātmanā yogo
duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā
śakyo ’vāptum upāyataḥ (Bg 6.36)

Word-for-word:
asaṁyata — unbridled; ātmanā — by the mind; yogaḥ — self-realization; duṣprāpaḥ — difficult to obtain; iti — thus; me — My; matiḥ — opinion; vaśya — controlled; ātmanā — by the mind; tu — but; yatatā — while endeavoring; śakyaḥ — practical; avāptum — to achieve; upāyataḥ — by appropriate means.

Translation:
For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by appropriate means is assured of success. That is My opinion.

Explanation:
Kṛṣṇa continues to address Arjuna’s apprehension about the feasibility of controlling the mind. He states:
asaṁyatātmanā yogo: For one whose mind is not controlled,
duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ: I think yoga is very difficult to attain.
Here, yoga refers both to the practice of yoga and to its perfection. Without mind control, the practice itself becomes difficult, and more importantly, the ultimate goal of yoga—attaining connection with the Absolute Truth—remains out of reach.
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā: But for one who endeavors with a controlled mind,
śakyo ’vāptum upāyataḥ: it is possible to attain, provided one follows the proper process.

In the previous verse, Kṛṣṇa acknowledges that although the mind is undoubtedly difficult to control, it can be brought under control through practice and detachment. This verse builds on that point by stating that without controlling the mind, success in yoga is extremely difficult—almost unattainable. However, controlling the mind is possible only by following a proper process.

Here, Kṛṣṇa does not specify any particular process. He continues to describe aṣṭāṅga-yoga in this chapter, and in the concluding verse, He highlights that the most intimately united yogīs are those who fix their minds on Him. From the seventh chapter onwards, He shifts the focus to bhakti-yoga. In 7.1, He declares that the same perfection of yoga—fixing the mind on Kṛṣṇa—can be achieved through the practice of bhakti-yoga. Later, in the eighth chapter, He explicitly compares aṣṭāṅga-yoga and bhakti-yoga and unambiguously recommends bhakti-yoga.

A process is essential for controlling the mind, and the Bhagavad-gītā recommends bhakti-yoga as that process. In this particular verse, however, Kṛṣṇa does not describe the process; He states the underlying principle. It is similar to an engineering student who finds engineering mathematics extremely difficult. The teacher may acknowledge, “Yes, it is difficult, but if you apply yourself, you can understand it and excel.” If the student remains reluctant, thinking the subject is too challenging, the teacher might caution that without mastering engineering mathematics, the student will neither progress in later studies nor succeed in his career.

Similarly, Kṛṣṇa explains that controlling the mind is a fundamental skill. Without it, attaining yoga is virtually impossible. Just as a teacher impresses upon a student the importance of applying themselves to their studies, even if the subject seems difficult, Kṛṣṇa emphasizes that without controlling the mind, success in yoga is extremely difficult to achieve (asaṁyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ).

Next, the teacher might tell the student, “If you do well in this subject, you will be able to flourish as an engineer,” which inspires the student. The student realizes, “If I neglect this, I’ll struggle in other subjects, but if I master it, that will be a major step toward success in my engineering studies.” Similarly, Kṛṣṇa says in the latter part of the verse, vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo ’vāptum upāyataḥ—if one endeavors to control the mind (yatatā), it is indeed possible (śakya) to attain yogic perfection by following a proper process (avāptum upāyataḥ).

The teacher may advise the student not to study haphazardly. There may be a hundred reference books available, but the teacher will say, “Don’t refer to all of them. Focus on this one book, prepare for these specific questions, and concentrate on these key areas.” Good students usually follow a clear, structured process that helps them optimize their study efforts. Similarly, Kṛṣṇa indicates here that there is a specific process to be followed for controlling the mind, which He will elaborate on later.

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa highlights both the necessity and the feasibility of mind control. Necessity refers to something that must be done, while feasibility refers to something that can realistically be accomplished.

For example, consider someone using petrol or diesel, which causes significant pollution. Over time, this pollution poses a serious threat to the environment. An environmental activist with a spiritual vision will not focus on condemnation but on education. The emphasis will not be on blaming things, people, or circumstances, nor on adopting self-righteous behavior by subtly implying—even if never stated explicitly—that “I am good.”

This attitude of assumed superiority is not what Kṛṣṇa adopts here. After explaining to Arjuna how the mind is to be controlled, Kṛṣṇa highlights the privilege of the human form of life and the special opportunity it offers to attain perfection. He assures Arjuna that by following the proper process, perfection is surely attainable. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa encourages Arjuna to be inspired and dedicated to the right path, rather than becoming disheartened by imagining the task to be impossibly difficult. He assures Arjuna that it is both essential and feasible if the proper process is followed.

Thank you.