Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya

  • 33-37: Dealing with the mind, the main obstacle in yoga

Now Sri Krishna will conclude this with one more verse after which Arjuna will ask another question: 

Bg 6.36

asaṁyatātmanā yogo
duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā
śakyo ’vāptum upāyataḥ

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.

 

asaṁyatā means unbridled uncontrolled, when the mind is uncontrolled 

Yogo dusprapa, perfection of yoga is impossible to attend, 

vaśyātmanā tu yatatā, however if one brings the mind under control, yatatā, by endeavor, śakyo ’vāptum upāyataḥ, one will be able to attain success.

So what is the point of this verse the point is if mind is not in control the yogis perfection is duṣprāpa, impossible to attain, but if one control the mind by proper endeavor by proper process then śakyo ’vāptum it is possible to attain , śakyo means possible.

So the point which Sri Krishna is making is He is encouraging without being compromising, yes it is possible if you endeavor with right process but is also uncompromising, so (a) and (b) is uncompromising, if you can’t control the mind you will not attend Yogic perfection. One who doesn’t control will not get, so it is a requirement which has to be met. So He is uncompromising at the same time He is understanding and encouraging, there is a right process , you follow the process you will be able to control the mind. vaśyātmanā tu yatatā, bring the mind under control and endeavour and endeavour you will attain the success, so Krishna is offering encouragement to Arjuna over here yes it is possible for you to do Arjuna if you just keep practicing you will definitely achieve it. So what is the process, that Sri Krishna will talk later in the BG He is not directly talking here. It will come several time. Astanga Yoga and Bhakti Yoga will contrast in 8th chapter and in 8.14 Sri Krishna will tell What is the process, easy way, here Arjuna is telling it is difficult to do this and Sri Krishna will say it is easy to do, what is easy to do Bhakti Yoga this is the only verse in BG where Sri Krishna is saying attainment of Bhakti Yoga is easy Sulabha, How it becomes easy for one who remembers Sri Krishna and remembrance of Krishna to control the mind. 

So here Shri Krishna concludes the question of Arjuna, it is two verse question and two verse answer, in two verses Arjuna expresses apprehension and in two verse Krishna gives clarification and encouragement, so He says yes it is difficult no doubt but with right process it is easy. Just the example of darkness and light, darkness is impossible to remove if you don’t have the right process by punching the darkness by kicking the darkness by cursing the darkness it can’t be removed we need to get light, So similarly Sri Krishna is telling if you don’t use the right process then we can’t remove the darkness we have to have the right process. Sometimes people feel that I have some anarthas I just use the will power to deal them, see will power alone is not enough e.g. somebody is having cough or somebody is having loose motion by will power NO, by will power I can’t deal with it is a disease, will power is required but will power has to be coupled with the process. Take this medicine take this medicine then I will be able to cure so will power alone is not enough will power coupled with process will lead to elevation for us, so Sri Krishna is saying śakyo ’vāptum, it is possible but how yatatā, endeavor vaśyātmanā, bring the mind under control endeavour with the right process and then you will attain perfection

So after hearing this Arjuna will ask another doubt

So Arjuna has asked first a question that how does on deal with mind, mind is so troublesome and Krishna told him to deal with patience, persistence and detachment. So Abhyasa and Vairagya, so Arjuna gets a question, ok it may be possible but that takes a very long time and what if one starts the process but not able to complete it? What happens to a person who takes up Yoga but later gives it up. That will be talked about in next verse.

End of transcription.