Chapter 6 Verse 26
Dhyān Yog
यतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम्। ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत्।।6.26।।
yato yato niśhcharati manaśh chañchalam asthiram tatas tato niyamyaitad ātmanyeva vaśhaṁ nayet
Word Meanings
| yataḥ yataḥ | whenever and wherever |
| niśhcharati | wanders |
| manaḥ | the mind |
| chañchalam | restless |
| asthiram | unsteady |
| tataḥ tataḥ | from there |
| niyamya | having restrained |
| etat | this |
| ātmani | on God |
| eva | certainly |
| vaśham | control |
| nayet | should bring |
Translation
From whatever cause the restless and unsteady mind wanders away, let him restrain it from that and bring it under the control of the Self alone.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse tells us that the mind will wander — often and everywhere. When it moves away in restlessness, we should gently hold it back and bring it back under the control of the Self (the calm, inner witness).
Control here is not harsh force. It is steady, kind correction: notice the drift, stop the habit of following every thought, and turn attention inward toward what is steady and true.
Spiritually, training the mind this way leads to inner peace and clearer action. In daily life it means choosing awareness over reaction so we act from presence instead of being pulled by passing urges or worries.
Life Application
- Pause and notice: when you feel distracted or upset, name it (“thinking,” “worrying”) and stop following the thought.
- Gently return attention to a steady anchor — your breath, a short prayer, or a value you want to act from.
- Practice often in small moments: short breaths or one-minute check-ins several times a day build the habit of inner control.
Reflection Question
Where does my mind wander most, and how can I gently bring it back to my inner calm right now?