Devanagari
असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मति: ।
वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायत: ॥ ३६ ॥
Verse text
asaṁyatātmanā yogo
duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā
śakyo ’vāptum upāyataḥ
Synonyms
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.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
36. It is My opinion that yoga is not possible for one whose mind is without practice and detachment. But it is possible to attain for one who endeavors and controls the mind by the intense practice.
Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
36. It is My opinion that yoga is not possible for one with uncontrolled mind. But it is possible to attain for one who endeavors and controls the mind, by the proper method.
Translation (Bhurijana Dasa)
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.
PURPORT
The Supreme Personality of Godhead declares that one who does not accept the proper treatment to detach the mind from material engagement can hardly achieve success in self‑realization. Trying to practice yoga while engaging the mind in material enjoyment is like trying to ignite a fire while pouring water on it. Yoga practice without mental control is a waste of time. Such a show of yoga may be materially lucrative, but it is useless as far as spiritual realization is concerned. Therefore, one must control the mind by engaging it constantly in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Unless one is engaged in Krsna consciousness, he cannot steadily control the mi Krsna conscious person easily achieves the result of practice without separate endeavor, but a yoga practitioner cannot achieve success without becoming Krsna conscious.
Purport
The Supreme Personality of Godhead declares that one who does not accept the proper treatment to detach the mind from material engagement can hardly achieve success in self-realization. Trying to practice yoga while engaging the mind in material enjoyment is like trying to ignite a fire while pouring water on it. Yoga practice without mental control is a waste of time. Such a show of yoga may be materially lucrative, but it is useless as far as spiritual realization is concerned. Therefore, one must control the mind by engaging it constantly in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Unless one is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he cannot steadily control the mind. A Kṛṣṇa conscious person easily achieves the result of yoga practice without separate endeavor, but a yoga practitioner cannot achieve success without becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The Lord cites His own conclusion. Yoga is difficult for a person whose mind is not controlled by practice and detachment (asaṁyata ātmanā). Yoga or samādhi, characterized by stopping the mind, can be attained after a long time by a person who makes effort with the mind controlled (vaśyātmanā), because of intense practice (upāyataḥ).
Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
Even if a man is wise, he cannot attain yoga, characterized by stopping the internal functions, if he does not control the mind with the practice and renunciation just mentioned. One who controls the mind by renunciation and practice with great effort (yatatā) attains yoga, using the proper method (upāyataḥ)—that is, by niṣkāma karma, a form of jṣāna, characterized by worship of Me. That is my opinion.
Surrender Unto Me
Whether one practices karma‑yoga, jnana‑yoga or astanga‑ yoga, or bhakti‑yoga ‑ the same points are needed: controlling one's mind (abhyasa) and detachment from matter (vairagya).
After hearing how to draw away with the difficult situations that makes yoga practice unendurable and so difficult, Arjuna asks a question:
[ E . THE DESTINATION OF THE UNSUCCESSFUL YOGI (6. 37‑45)
Krsna then answers Arjuna's doubt about the destination of a unsuccessful yogi or anyone on an auspicious, spiritual path. The Lord explains that after enjoying on the higher planets, the yogi takes birth within a righteous or aristocratic family. If he is unsuccessful after a long practice, he will take birth in a family of wise transcendentalists. He will then automatically become attracted to yogic principles (even without seeking them). Then, after rigourous practice, he will attain the supreme goal. (These verses are expanded from 2 .40, which refers to the protection of one on a spiritual path). ]