Meditation Yoga
Chapter 6, Verse 34
caƱcalaį¹ hi manaįø„ kį¹į¹£į¹a
pramÄthi balavad-dį¹įøham
tasyÄhaį¹ nigrahaį¹ manye
vÄyoriva suduį¹£karam
Restless indeed is the mind, O Krishna; it is vehement, strong and unconquerable; I see it as hard to control as the wind.
The word caƱcalaį¹ means something that is always jumping and moving. When someone is not stable, we say, āThis person is caƱcala.ā Arjuna says, āRestless indeed is the mind. Indeed I perceive it, I can see it. My mind is always caƱcalaį¹, even when You are telling me that the mind should dwell in the Supreme Being. I know that what you are saying is right, there is no doubt. Because You are the Lord Himself, You are the One who can change that and transform it.ā
Here Arjuna says to Lord Krishna that the mind is truly unsteady, turbulent, powerful, and very difficult to control as is the wind. One canāt control the wind, where it comes from, where it goes, no one knows. Christ says in the Bible that the wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. The mind is as powerful as a mad elephant.
The story is told of the mad elephant Kuvalayapida that Krishna killed:
The evil king Kamsa ordered Akrura to bring Krishna and Balarama from Vrindavan to Mathura. Kamsa had a plan to kill Krishna. He thought, āKrishna and Balarama are only two boys. I will put this mighty elephant in front of the wrestling arena and as soon as Krishna comes, the mahout who controls the elephant, will make the elephant catch Krishna and crush Him under its feet. If by some miracle they survive, I also have my mighty wrestlers, Chanura and Mustika, who will kill both of them.ā
Kamsa was very eager to watch this scene, so he sat there in the arena with all his court, waiting to see what would happen. When Krishna and Balarama arrived at the entrance to the wrestling arena, Krishna killed that elephant, āPow!ā like nothing. Then Krishna entered the arena like a triumphant winner, carrying one of the elephantās tusks on His shoulders. Next, Krishna and Balarama easily killed the mighty wrestlers Chanura and Mustika. Afterwards Krishna also killed Kamsa.
You see, a mighty mad elephant resembles the mad, turbulent mind. The mind is not only unsteady and restless, it is also as turbulent and powerful as a mad elephant. Arjuna says, āThe mind is hard to control and we donāt know what will emerge from such a mind, what kind of commotion will arise from such a mind.ā
In this verse, Arjuna says, āO Krishna.ā Addressing Krishna in this way, he means, āYou who attract the hearts of all. You are the Lord, You can change this! Even for me, it is very difficult.ā Arjuna is praying that his mind could be drawn and attracted to the Lord. How difficult could that be? Here it means complete surrender. Arjuna says, āI surrender my mind, because I canāt control it by myself. I am listening to You and You are trying to enlighten me...ā He says ātryingā, because he is still asking questions. If he was enlightened, he wouldnāt have any questions. Thatās why I said that Lord Krishna is going slowly with him, step by step. Krishna has taught him how to meditate, how to concentrate the mind and focus it on the Lord within himself. However, Arjuna is still asking the Lord to help him. āMy turbulent mind is so powerful, so restless. Oh Krishna! Please, save me!ā
Kamsa had that mighty elephant stationed there, at the entrance to the arena, to kill Krishna, but Krishna killed the turbulent, powerful mind, the big elephant in one blow, āPow! Finish!ā When oneās heart fully opens up to the Lord through bhakti, through loving and surrendering to Him, like that the Lord, with one blow, āPow!ā, the mind is subdued straight away. It is possible! But the state of complete surrender must be there. Without complete surrender, why would He do that? When He sees that Ź»yesŹ¼, then whatever you are asking for, if there is a valid reason for it, if there is sincerity, if pride will not awaken, if depression or confusion will not awaken, then He will give. He will release. He will manifest.
Bhagavad Gita
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