वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः | बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः || ४ १० || viitha-raaga-bhaya-krodhaa man-mayaa maam-upaashritaaha bahavo gnyaana-thapasaa puutha madh-bhaava-maaga-thaaha (SBG 4:10) Freed from attachment, fear and anger, being absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fire of knowledge, many have thus attained My Divine nature. (SBG 4:10)
Avoid those three gates of ‘hell’ and have a great life ahead.
एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः | आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम् || १६ २२ || etair-vimuktah kaunteya tamo-dvaarai-stribhir-naraha aachara-tyaat-manah shreyas- tato yaati paraam gatim (SBG 16:22) When liberated from the three gates of hell, one strives for Self-realisation and thus attains the Supreme goal. (SBG 16:22)
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः | कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् || १६ २१ || trividham narakasyedam dvaaram naashana-maat-manaha kaamah krodhas-tathaa lobhas- tasmaad-etat-trayam tyajet (SBG 16:21) There are three gates to the hell of destroying oneself – they are lust, anger, and greed. These three should therefore be given up. (SBG 16:21)
The choice between carrying good thoughts and bad ones rests with each individual.
दैवी संपद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता | मा शुचः संपदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव || १६ ५ || daivee sampad-vimokshaaya nibandhaa-yaasuree mataa maa shuchah sampadam daiveem- abhijaato’si paandava (SBG 16:05) Divine qualities lead a person towards liberation, while demoniacal qualities cause bondage. Do not worry, O Arjuna, because you were born with divine qualities! (SBG 16:05)
Having an uncontrolled mind is like riding an unbridled, powerful horse that destroys all it comes across.
असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः | वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः || ६ ३६ || asamya-taatmanaa yogo dush-praapa iti me matihi vash-yaatmanaa tu yatataa shakyo’vaaptum-upaa-yataha (SBG 6:36) Yoga is difficult to attain for a person whose mind is not controlled. But it is possible for one who has his mind under control and works through prescribed means.
In My opinion, attaining Yoga by a person whose mind is not bridled is difficult. However, people who have learned to control their minds, and who strive sincerely through righteous means, can reach perfection in Yoga. (SBG 6:36)
Dedication and practice can help a person achieve even the toughest of goals – such as that of controlling their own mind.
श्रीभगवानुवाच | असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् | अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते || ६ ३५ || Sri Bhagavaan uvaacha: asamshayam mahaabaaho mano durnigraham chalam abhyaasena tu kaunteya vairaagyeNa cha gruhyate (SBG 6:35) Sri Bhagavan Krishna said: Undoubtedly, O Arjuna, the mind is restless and difficult to control, but it can be restrained through practice and dispassion. (6:35)
चंचलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद् दृढम् | तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् || ६ ३४ || chanchalam hi manah krushNa pramaathi balavad drud-ham tasyaa-ham nigra-ham manye vaayoriva sudush-karam (SBG 6:34)
(Arjuna said) The mind is certainly restless, turbulent, strong and unyielding, O Krishna! I think it is extremely difficult to control it, just as the wind is. (SBG 6:34)
Mind Management needs to be anybody’s Priority No. 1
अर्जुन उवाच | योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन | एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चंचलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थिराम् || ६ ३३ || Arjuna Uvaacha : yo’yam yogastvayaa proktah saamyena madhu soodana etasyaaham na pashyaami chanchalat-vaat-sthitim sthiraam (SBG6:33) Arjuna said, “This Yoga of equanimity that you have described, O Madhusudana, seems impractical and not attainable because of restlessness of the mind. (SBG 6:33)
Those who are free from passion and anger, who have their minds under control, who have realised the Self and are constantly aiming for perfection, are sages who are assured of liberation in the Supreme Brahman. (SBG 5:26)
Those who are free from all sins, whose minds are disciplined and are beyond dualities arising out of doubts, and who are always engaged in the welfare of all living beings, are Rishis (holy people) who attain Brahmanirvana (liberation). (SBG 5:25)
योऽन्तःसुखोऽन्तरारामस्तथान्तर्ज्योतिरेव यः | स योगी ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं ब्रह्मभूतोऽधिगच्छति || ५ २४ || yo’ntaha sukho’ntaraa raamas- ta thaantar jyotir eva yaha sa yogee brahma nirvaaNam brahma bhooto’dhigacchati (SBG 5:24)
One who is happy from within, rejoices within, and is illumined within, is a yogi. Such a yogi attains self-realisation, complete freedom, and becoming Brahman, he attains Brahma nirvana or salvation. (SBG 5:24)
Never give anyone or anything the power to control the state of your mind.
न प्रहृष्येत्प्रियं प्राप्य नोद्विजेत्प्राप्य चाप्रियम् | स्थिरबुद्धिरसंमूढो ब्रह्मविद् ब्रह्मणि स्थितः || ५ २० || na prah-rshyet-priyam praapya nodvijet-praapya chaapriyam sthira-buddhir-asammood-ho brahmavid brahmaNi sthitaha (SBG 5:20)
A person with a clear understanding of the Supreme Brahman has a detached and stable intellect. Such a person neither takes pleasure in receiving something pleasant nor does he grieve on receiving something unpleasant. He is always situated in the transcendent state of Brahman. (SBG 5:20)
शक्नोतीहैव यः सोढुं प्राक्शरीरविमोक्षणात् | कामक्रोधोद्भवं वेगं स युक्तः स सुखी नरः || ५ २३ || shaknotee–haiva yah sod-hum praak–shareera-vimokshaNaat kaama–krodhod-bhavam vegam sa yuktah sa sukhee naraha (SBG 5:23) A person, who, before giving up his body, is able to withstand urges of desire and anger that are generated in him, is a self-controlled and happy Yogi. (SBG 5:23)
विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः | निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः स शान्तिमधिगच्छति || २ ७१ || vihaaya kaamaan-yah sarvaan- pumaamsh-charati nihspruhaha nirmamo nirahankaaraha sa shaanti madhigacchati (SBG 2:71) The person, who has renounced attachment to all sense objects, has no greed, has no sense of ownership, and is free from false pride, attains peace. (SBG 2:71)
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् | तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी || २ ७० || aapuurya-maaNamachala-prathist-ham samudra-maapaha pravishanti yadhvat tadvat-kaamaa yam pravishanti sarve sa shaanti-maapnoti na kaama kaami (SBG 2:70) He, who is steady in spite of the never-ending flow of desires just like the ocean is although so many rivers enter it, can attain peace. But one who is desirous of pleasures cannot achieve it. (SBG 2:70)
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते | तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि || २ ६७ || indriyaaNaam hi charataam yan-mano ‘nuvidhiiyate tadasya harati pragnyaam vaayur-naava-mivaam-bhasi (SBG 2:67) Just the way a strong wind moves a ship sailing on the water away from its course, any of the senses that the mind follows and concentrates on, can lead astray the wisdom of a person. (SBG 2:67)
नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना | न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम् || २ ६६ || naasti buddhi-rayuk-tasya na chaayuk-tasya bhaavanaa na chaabhaa-vayataha shaantir- ashaantasya kutah sukham (SBG 2:66) There cannot be spiritual knowledge and intelligence in a person who is devoid of meditation. Such a person, without a mind which is fixed has no peace. How can a person with no peace find happiness? (SBG 2:66)
प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते | प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते || २ ६५ || prasaade sarva-duhkhaanaam haani-rasyo-pajaayate prasanna-chetaso hyaashu buddhih parya-vathisht-hathe (SBG 2:65) When serenity of mind through Divine Consciousness is achieved, all material miseries are destroyed and the intellect of such a person is steady. (SBG 2:65)
But the person who controls his senses, in spite of being with sense objects, is free from both attachment and aversion. Such a person attains a state of serenity. (SBG 2:64)
A person who thinks of sense objects develops an attachment to them. From this attachment, desires are born, and from desires, anger is born. (SBG 2:62)
क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः | स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति || २ ६३ || krodhaad bhavati sammohaha sammohaat smrti vibhramaha smrti bhramshaad buddhi naasho buddhi naashaat praNashyati (SBG 2:63)
Anger gives birth to delusion, and this delusion results in confusion of memory. When memory is confused, intelligence is destroyed and from the destruction of intelligence, the person perishes. (SBG 2:63)
O son of Kunti, the senses are so strong and turbulent, that they can forcibly lead astray the mind of even a wise person who is striving hard to control them. (SBG 2:60}
He who is not agitated or disturbed amidst difficulties; is also not euphoric when he has comforts and is free from attachment, fear and anger; is known to be a sage with a steady mind. (SBG 2:56)
Shree Bhagavan Krishna said: O Partha (Arjuna), one who gives up all selfish desires of the senses that trouble the mind, has a purified mind, and is in a pure state of the mind and soul. Such a person is called a ‘Stithapragnya” or one with steady consciousness. (SBG 2:55)
अर्जुन उवाच | स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव | स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम् || २ ५४ || arjuna uvaacha sthita-pragnyasya kaa bhaashaa samaadhis-thasya keshava sthitha-dhiihi kim prabhaa-shetha kim-aasiitha vra-jeta kim (SBG 2:54)
Arjuna said: O Keshava (Bhagavan Krishna), what is a man, who is steady in Samaadhi or Self-realisation called? How does such a man talk? How does he sit, and how does he walk? (SBG 2:54)
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः | आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत || २ १४ || maatraa-sparshaas-tu kaunteya sheetosh-Na sukhad-duhkha-daaha aagamaa-paayino-‘nityaas- taam-sthithik-shasva-bhaarata (SBG 2:14)
(Krishna says) O son of Kunti, impermanent things such as happiness and sadness are like the heat and cold in summer and winter. They come and go. They are temporary, so learn to endure them. (SBG 2: 14)
(Arjuna says) With my mind in a state of confusion regarding my duty and the feeling of helplessness because of weakness, I ask You to tell me what is good for me. I am Your disciple and I have surrendered my soul to You. Please teach me. (SBG 2:07)
श्रीभगवानुवाच | कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् | अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन || २ २ || sri bhagavan uvaacha kutas tvaa kashmalam idam vishame samupasthitham anaarya jushtam asvargyam- akiirti karam arjuna (SBG 2:02)
The Supreme Bhagavan said: O Arjuna, where, in this hour of crisis, did these qualities like weakness, which are unbecoming of honourable men, come from and take over you? Such qualities will prevent you from reaching higher levels in life and will also ruin your honour and get you a bad reputation. (SBG 2:02)
Understanding Krishna as The Divine Father and Mother
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः | अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च || १० २० || ahamaatmaa gudaakesha sarva-bhootaa-shayas-thitaha ahamaadish-cha madhyam cha bhootaa-naam-anta eva cha (SBG 10:20)
I am the Self, O Gudakesha (Arjuna), situated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the origin, the middle and also the end of all beings. (SBG 10:20)
Understanding Krishna as The Divine Father and Mother
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु | मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे || १८ ६५ || manmanaa bhava madbhakto madyaajee maam namaskuru maame vaishyasi satyam te prati-jaane priyo’si me (SBG 18:65)
Fix your mind on Me, always think of Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice unto Me, and you shall come to Me. This is My promise to you, as you are dear to Me. (18:65)
Using the Yoga of your intellect, dedicate all your actions to Me, have Me as your highest goal, devote yourself intensely to Me and you will always be under My protection. Be fully conscious of Me all the time. (18:57)