Bhagavad Gita 2.67
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 67 of 72
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते । तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ॥
indriyāṇāṃ hi caratāṃ yan mano 'nuvidhīyate | tad asya harati prajñāṃ vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi ||
When mind follows the wandering senses, wisdom is carried away — like wind sweeps a ship off course.
Word by word (3)
- indriyāṇāṃ caratām
- — of the wandering / roaming senses · Caratām from car (to move, to wander, to graze). The senses described as grazing animals — naturally roaming, seeking stimulation. Not evil, but undirected. The problem begins when the mind follows them rather than leading them.
- manaḥ anuvidhīyate
- — the mind follows in their wake / obeys them · Anu = after, following. Vidhīyate from vi+dhā (to be directed, to be placed). The mind that anuvidhīyate (follows after) the senses has reversed the natural hierarchy: mind should govern senses, not be governed by them. This reversal is the root of the problem described in V62-63.
- vāyuḥ nāvam iva ambhasi
- — like wind carries a ship on water · The ship analogy is vivid and precise: the ship (mind) has the capacity for direction, but when the wind (senses) overpowers it, the captain (buddhi) loses control. The wind doesn't need to be a storm — even gentle, consistent wind can carry a ship far off course if the rudder isn't engaged.
When the mind chases after whichever sense is currently wandering, that sense carries away the person's wisdom — just as the wind carries a ship helplessly across the water.
A modern analogy
You sit down to do important work. A notification pings — the mind follows. You check it, which leads to another link, which leads to a video. Twenty minutes later you've drifted completely off course. No storm was required — just the small consistent pull of wandering senses, and a mind that followed rather than governed. The ship is miles from where it meant to go.
Take with you
- The mind following the senses (anuvidhīyate) is the default state — not a moral failure, but an unexamined one.
- Wisdom (prajñā) is the first casualty when the senses lead and the mind follows.
- The rudder (disciplined attention) can always be re-engaged — the ship can always be turned. But the longer it drifts, the more course correction is needed.
- Design your environment so the 'winds' (notifications, distractions) are weaker and your 'rudder' (clear intention) is stronger.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
For when the mind follows the roaming senses, it carries away a man's wisdom as the wind carries off a boat upon the waters. [1]
For, whichever of the roaming senses the mind follows, that sense carries away his wisdom, as the wind carries away a ship on the water. [4]
As a vessel is tossed on the water by the wind, so the mind that yields to the wandering senses loses its wisdom. [6]
As the steersman on his vessel Is borne helpless by the tempest, So the struggling soul is carried Whithersoever blows the passion. [7]
For whichever of the moving senses the mind yields to, that sense carries away the man's understanding, just as the wind carries a vessel on the water. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Even the striving wise man's mind is forcibly stolen by turbulent senses. This is honest — not shameful.
Therefore: completely withdraw the senses from their objects in all directions. That is established wisdom.
Restless, turbulent, strong, unyielding — O Krishna, restraining the mind is as hard as restraining the wind.
Like a tortoise draws in its limbs, the wise one withdraws senses from objects. Wisdom stands firm.
Arjuna sees his own people ready to die — and his body breaks before his mind can argue.
You grieve for those who should not be grieved for — and call it wisdom.
Verse 67 of 72 · back to Chapter 2