Shankaracharya's commentary, trans. Alladi Mahadeva Sastry (1897)
[1]Yoga is hard to attain by one of uncontrolled self — such is My conviction. But it can be obtained by the self-controlled one striving by right means.
BG 6.36
असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः | वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः ||३६||
asaṃyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ | vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo'vāptum upāyataḥ || 36 ||
"Yoga is hard for the uncontrolled self — but for the self-controlled one striving by right means, it is attainable."
All public-domain translations
6 translations · all pre-1928 or released to public domain · sources
Swami Swarupananda, Srimad Bhagavad Gita (1909)
[4]Yoga is hard to be attained by one of uncontrolled self: such is My conviction; but the self-controlled, striving by right means can obtain it.
Annie Besant & Bhagavan Das, The Bhagavad Gītā (1905)
[5]Yoga is hard to be attained by one whose self is not subdued — that is my view; but he who has the self controlled, striving rightly, can attain it.
William Quan Judge, The Bhagavad Gita (1890)
[6]I agree with thee that it is most difficult for one with uncontrolled mind; but by right means with a well-governed mind it can be obtained.
Sir Edwin Arnold, The Song Celestial (1885)
[7]Difficult it is, I know, to win for those of unquiet hearts: but those who strive by right means and have subdued their spirits — they shall attain.
K.T. Telang, Sacred Books of the East Vol. 8 (1882)
[9]Yoga is hard to be achieved by one of uncontrolled self — such is my conviction; but by him who has a self under control, it is achievable through proper means.