यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः ।इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ॥
yatato hy api kaunteya puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ |indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṃ manaḥ ||
- यततः · yatataḥ
- of one striving, exerting
- हि · hi
- indeed
- अपि · api
- even
- कौन्तेय · kaunteya
- O son of Kunti (Arjuna)
- पुरुषस्य · puruṣasya
- of a person
- विपश्चितः · vipaścitaḥ
- of the discerning, wise
- इन्द्रियाणि · indriyāṇi
- the senses
- प्रमाथीनि · pramāthīni
- turbulent, impetuous
- हरन्ति · haranti
- carry away
- प्रसभम् · prasabham
- by force
- मनः · manaḥ
- the mind
“The turbulent senses, O son of Kunti, carry away by force the mind of even a striving, discerning person.”
— Original plain-language translation
No exceptions claimed: even the wise striver gets dragged. The verse demolishes spiritual pride and explains why method (2.61) must follow insight — knowing the senses are strong is what makes discipline non-negotiable.
— Reader's notes (original)