Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 67

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते ।
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ॥

Transliteration

indriyāṇāṃ hi caratāṃ yanmano.anuvidhīyate .
tadasya harati prajñāṃ vāyurnāvamivāmbhasi ॥

Meaning

For when the mind follows any one of the roaming senses, that sense carries away his wisdom, just as the wind carries away a boat upon the waters.

Word meanings

इन्द्रियाणाम् – of the senses
हि – for
चरताम् – roaming (among objects)
यत् – which (sense)
मनः – the mind
अनुविधीयते – follows, is led by
तत् – that
अस्य – his
हरति – carries away
प्रज्ञाम् – wisdom, discernment
वायुः – the wind
नावम् – a boat
इव – like
अम्भसि – on the water

Anvaya (word order)

हि चरताम् इन्द्रियाणां (मध्ये) यत् (इन्द्रियम्) मनः अनुविधीयते, तत् अस्य प्रज्ञाम् अम्भसि वायुः नावम् इव हरति ।

Explanation

The previous verse said that the undisciplined do not attain wisdom. Now Krishna explains why with a vivid picture — a boat on the water and the wind that sweeps it away. This simile is among the loveliest images in the sthitaprajna section.

The first key point of the verse is ‘yat’ — whichever one sense. Shankara and other commentators make clear that it is not necessary for all the senses to wander for wisdom to be lost; a single sense is enough. Just as one hole is enough to sink a boat, a single unrestrained sense — be it the tongue, the eye or the ear — can carry away all one's wisdom. An old verse makes the same point: the deer perishes through sound, the elephant through touch, the moth through form, the fish through taste and the bee through smell — each through just one sense; what then of the human being who is a slave to all five!

The second point is ‘mano 'nuvidhiyate’ — when the mind follows a sense. The senses are not at fault in themselves; they are instruments for experiencing objects. The trouble begins when the mind, which should be their master, becomes their follower. The chariot image of the Katha Upanishad says the same: the senses are the horses, the mind the reins, the intellect the charioteer. When the reins begin to follow the horses, the charioteer is helpless.

Now consider the simile. The boat is on the water; that is natural — a person lives in the world. The boat's purpose is to reach the shore. As long as the oar and the boatman are in control, it moves in the right direction. But when a strong wind blows and the boatman loses control, the boat drifts off course and sinks in a whirlpool. Here the boat is wisdom, the water is the world, the wind is the mind running after the senses, and the shore is Self-knowledge.

The verse teaches that vigilance must be complete. Many people are disciplined in most areas but remain weak in one — and that one weakness capsizes their whole life. True wisdom lies in recognising that one weak sense and guarding it with special care.

Context

Verse 2.66 said that the undisciplined gain neither wisdom nor peace. This verse gives the reason — even one sense roaming among objects drags the mind along and sweeps wisdom away. In the next verse (2.68) Krishna draws the conclusion: therefore he whose senses are restrained on every side has steady wisdom.

Life lesson

Identify the one sense or habit that most easily carries you away, and keep a special guard over it. A single hole is enough to sink a boat.

Key terms

Anuvidhana: following after, being led by
Prajna: discerning, steady wisdom
Boat-and-wind simile: wind sweeping a boat on the waters — an image of the wandering mind