यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः । इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ॥
yatato hy api kaunteya puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ | indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṃ manaḥ ||
Even the striving wise man's mind is forcibly stolen by turbulent senses. This is honest — not shameful.
Word by word (3)
- yatataḥ vipaścitaḥ
- — even of the striving wise man · Yatataḥ = one who strives, one who makes effort (from yat, to strive). Vipaścit = discerning, wise, learned. The force of the verse is in 'api' (even): even the striving, discerning man is not immune. This is not pessimism — it is honest recognition of the senses' power.
- pramāthīni indriyāṇi
- — the turbulent / agitating senses · Pramāthin from pra+math (to agitate, to churn, to overwhelm). The same root gives the name Pramatha — the churning ones. The senses are described as inherently agitating — not neutral instruments but actively turbulent forces that seek stimulation.
- haranti prasabhaṃ manaḥ
- — forcibly carry away the mind · Haranti = they carry away, they steal (from hṛ — the same root as Hari, one who 'takes away' sins). Prasabham = by force, violently. The image is of the mind being abducted — not gently tempted but forcibly seized. This vivid language respects the genuine power of sensory pull.
O Arjuna, even a wise man who is actively striving — the turbulent, agitating senses can violently carry away his mind. This is how powerful they are.
A modern analogy
A seasoned meditator with years of practice sits down and within five minutes is thinking about the argument they had yesterday. The senses — memories, sounds, physical sensations — have pulled the mind away without permission. This is not failure; it is the honest description of what the senses do. The verse is compassionate: even the wise person faces this.
Take with you
- The forcible carrying-away of the mind by senses is universal — not a sign of spiritual failure.
- Recognizing the senses' power honestly is the first step; pretending you are above it is the second mistake.
- This verse is encouragement in disguise: if even the wise person struggles, your struggle is normal and workable.
- The goal is not to never be pulled — it is to notice the pulling more quickly and return with less drama.
V60 is remarkable for its intellectual honesty. After several verses describing the sthitaprajña's mastery, Krishna acknowledges the genuine difficulty of the path even for the wise. The word vipaścit (discerning, wise) combined with yatataḥ (striving) describes someone already on the path — not a beginner but a committed practitioner. And still the senses can overwhelm. Shankaracharya uses this verse to argue against any form of spiritual pride: the very fact that even the wise man can be carried away means vigilance is required at every stage. This connects to V61 where Krishna immediately offers the solution: sit intent on Me — the devotion that provides a counter-force to sensory pull.
Modern parallels
Neuroscience confirms this: the limbic system (emotional/sensory brain) can override the prefrontal cortex (rational, planning brain) under sufficient stimulation. This is the 'amygdala hijack' (Goleman). Even the most disciplined person's prefrontal control can be bypassed by a strong enough sensory or emotional trigger. V60 is ancient neuroscience: the system is built this way; account for it rather than pretending otherwise.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
O Kaunteya, the turbulent senses forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who strives for self-control. [1]
The turbulent senses, O son of Kunti, do violently carry away the mind of even a wise man who is striving after perfection. [4]
The senses are so turbulent, O son of Kunti, that they violently carry away the mind of even a wise man earnestly striving for perfection. [6]
The mind that lends itself to drive the tides Of senses in, even of one who strives To conquer — if the passions mount, they will Bear him away. [7]
The turbulent senses, O son of Kunti, do violently carry away the mind of even a wise man though he strive against it. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Control all senses, sit in yoga focused on the Supreme — that one's wisdom stands unshakable.
Rāga and dveṣa lie in every sense-object. Do not come under their power — they are enemies on the path.
Restless, turbulent, strong, unyielding — O Krishna, restraining the mind is as hard as restraining the wind.
O Madhusūdana — I see no stable foundation for this yoga: the mind's restlessness defeats all steadiness.
Those who know Me as Adhibhūta, Adhidaiva, and Adhiyajña — they know Me even at death, with unified minds.
Mind-in-Me, devotee, worshiper, bow to Me — you will come to Me; truly I promise, you are dear to Me.