A core teaching · reflective in mood · a little context helps
“Restraint fails without disciplined senses.”
Even for a wise person who strives, the turbulent senses can forcibly carry away the mind.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
Read literallyfor one striving · indeed · even · O son of Kunti · of a person · of the wise · the senses · restless, turbulent · carry away · forcibly · the mind
Even a thoughtful person who is trying hard can lose control when the senses become restless and drag the mind away.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Sankhya Yoga" (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Verse 60 sits in Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, "The Yoga of Knowledge". The chapter has 72 verses in total.
You delete the app, silence the phone, and still reach for it. The urge returns from inside, and it can pull even a careful mind off course.
Did you like this verse?
It shifts the focus from occasional restraint to steady discipline of the senses and mind.
What this verse means
Even a thoughtful person who is trying hard can lose control when the senses become restless and drag the mind away.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna has begun learning self-mastery from Krishna. After warning that desire remains even when objects are withdrawn, Krishna adds the harder truth: even a wise person can be overpowered by restless senses. The mind needs disciplined protection, not confidence alone.
Why this verse still matters
You delete the app, silence the phone, and still reach for it. The urge returns from inside, and it can pull even a careful mind off course.
“Willpower alone is not enough; the senses need training too.”
Explore related themes: manas (49 verses), indriya (19 verses), self mastery (16 verses)