Commentary

Commentary

This verse is Krishna’s direct response to Arjuna’s concern about the restless mind. Rather than dismissing the difficulty, Krishna affirms it — and then opens the door. The structure of the verse is deliberately two-part: yes, yoga is hard for the uncontrolled mind (asanyataatmanaa); but for the one who strives with a controlled mind (vashyaatmanaa yatataa) through proper means (upaayatah), it is achievable.

The word upaayatah — “by proper means” — is the critical one. Krishna does not say yoga is achieved by mere willpower or by simply deciding to be disciplined. Proper means are required. In the context of the Gita as a whole, and especially in the commentary traditions, this points to the process of bhakti — devotional engagement with Krishna — as the most direct and practical means for mind-control. When the mind is genuinely attracted to something worthy of attraction, its restlessness is naturally gathered.

The verse also highlights the word yatataa — “striving.” There is no promise that the path will be effortless. Effort is required. But it is effort supported by method, not effort thrown against an unmovable wall. The proper means make the striving productive. Without proper means, even strong effort produces little; with proper means, even modest effort makes progress.

Historical Context

This verse completes Krishna’s two-verse response to Arjuna’s objection (verses 6.35-6.36). The pair functions as a complete teaching: acknowledge the difficulty, offer the means, affirm the possibility. The Vaishnava commentators emphasize that “proper means” in this verse anticipates verse 6.47, where Krishna identifies the devotee who worships with love as the highest of all yogis — making the bhakti path both the culmination and the most accessible form of yoga practice.