By: Rajendra Kapil

This chapter is known as ‘The Yoga of Self-Control’ (Ātma-Saṃyam Yoga).
Self-control is generally found in a renunciate or a true yogi. That is why, in this chapter, Lord Krishna attempts to describe the qualities of a true renunciate to Arjuna.

The first and foremost quality of a renunciate is that he performs all his duties naturally, without any attachment. Such a person is considered a true renunciate, a ‘Yogārūḍha’ – one who has fully mounted the path of yoga.

A renunciate who has mastered yoga and gained complete control over it is one who emphasizes the importance of controlling the mind completely. On the other hand, if a devotee continues to practice yoga but is constantly disturbed by desires and impulses, then such agitation will prevent him from reaching his true goal.

Without mastering the mind, no yogi’s sādhanā (spiritual practice) is complete. This weakness of the mind can lead to a downward path.
Arjuna, too, was a victim of this mental weakness, which is why he felt incapable of fighting.

Self-Controlled Yoga (Ātma-Saṃyam Yoga):

Bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ |
Anātmanas tu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatru-vat || (6)

Meaning:

One who has conquered the mind, for him, the mind becomes his best friend. But for one who has not mastered the mind, it becomes the greatest enemy.

In this verse, Lord Krishna makes it clear that our mind can be our greatest friend or our worst enemy. How we manage its movement and restlessness depends entirely on our yogic practice.
A yogi who recognizes this and controls his mind can easily unite with God and attain supreme peace.
But those who fail to discipline the mind become slaves to desire and pleasure, gaining neither peace in this world nor in the afterlife.

Conduct of a Yogi:

Yogī yuñjīta satatam ātmānaṁ rahasi sthitaḥ |
Ekākī yata-cittātmā nirāśīr aparigrahaḥ || (10)

Meaning:
Such a person constantly engages in meditation, remaining in solitude, free from desires and possessions, with mind and self fully controlled.

Śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ |
Nātyucchritaṁ nāti-nīcaṁ cailājina-kuśottaram || (11)
Tatraikāgraṁ manaḥ kṛtvā yata-cittendriya-kriyaḥ |
Upaviśyāsane yuñjyād-yogam ātma-viśuddhaye || (12)

Meaning:
To practice yoga, one should choose a pure and quiet place, set up a seat neither too high nor too low, covered with grass, deerskin, and cloth, then sit steadily. Fix the mind, control the senses, and begin the practice for purification of the inner self.

A yogi spends his time in deep contemplation of the Lord, thus he prefers solitude. He is far from worldly pleasures, having risen above material desires and possessions.
He sets up a seat with deerskin and cloth, concentrates the mind on divine contemplation, and meditates with eyes closed and focus at the tip of the nose.
Practicing brahmacharya (celibacy), he avoids carnal desires.
He consumes roots and herbs, distancing himself from taste indulgences.
Through this disciplined sādhanā, he eventually attains the supreme goal — God-realization.
Then he remains detached from worldly pleasures and experiences divine bliss in Lord’s feet. There is no spiritual experience greater than this.

Yo māṁ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṁ ca mayi paśyati |
Tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati || (30)

Meaning:
One who sees Me in all beings and all beings in Me — for such a person, I am never lost, and he is never lost to Me.

In this verse, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that when a yogi becomes fully immersed in Him, he begins to see Krishna in every particle of creation.
He loses his ego, his individuality, and sees the divine everywhere — in animals, birds, men, and women.
He sees the same divine form in the rich and poor, in the foolish and the wise.
He holds no discrimination or bias.
It is said that Sant Kabir, later in life, reached such a state. He sang:

“Lāli mere Lāl kī, jit dekhū tit Lāl
Lāli dekhne main gayī, to main bhī ho gayī Lāl.”

Such a devotee, a renunciate yogi, becomes very dear to the Lord.

Cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham |
Tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva su-duṣkaram || (34)

Meaning:
O Krishna, the mind is truly restless, turbulent, strong, and obstinate. To control it, I think, is as difficult as restraining the wind.

Hearing Lord Krishna, Arjuna responds:
“O Madhusudana, the yoga and renunciation you speak of sound beautiful in theory, but practicing them seems extremely difficult, because the mind you keep referring to is extremely restless. It doesn’t come under control easily. Please tell me a simpler way to master it.”

Asaṁśayaṁ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṁ calam |
Abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate || (35)
Asaṁyat-ātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ |
Vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo ‘vāptum upāyataḥ || (36)

Meaning:
Lord Krishna said: O mighty-armed, without doubt the mind is hard to control, but it can be conquered through practice (abhyāsa) and detachment (vairāgya).
For one who has not mastered the mind, yoga is difficult to attain. But for one who has controlled the mind, yoga is easily attainable — this is My view.

Hearing Arjuna’s concern, Lord Krishna agrees, saying:
“Yes, the mind is truly very restless. But that does not mean it can’t be controlled. It requires consistent practice and discipline.
To break free from the desires of the senses, repeated effort and focus are necessary.
Through such discipline and concentration, the mind can certainly be tamed — this is My personal experience.

Then the Lord explains to Arjuna that a renunciate who always performs good deeds and constantly worships Me, never strays from the path.
Such a pure yogi takes birth in virtuous homes, uplifting even the family lineage.
Born into learned or spiritual households, he easily completes the unfulfilled path to God-realization.
But such a birth is rare. However, when I am pleased, such rare births are made possible by My grace.

So, O Arjuna, give up all doubts and strive to become the renunciate described above.
Control the mind, rise above gain and loss, perform your duties, and dedicate every action to Me.
Abandon laziness and doubt, and prepare yourself like a brave warrior for this battle.
I will always stand by a renunciate like you — have unwavering faith in Me.