Bhagavad Gita BG 6.36
Chapter 6, Verse 36 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः । वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः ॥
asamyatatmana yogo dushprapa iti me matih vashyatmana tu yatata shakyo 'vaptum upayatah
Meaning
For one whose self is uncontrolled, yoga is difficult to attain — this is My view. But for the controlled self, striving, it can be attained through proper means.
Understanding
The direct follow-up: asamyatatmana (for one whose self is uncontrolled — asam-yata = not-yet-controlled) yoga is dushprapa (difficult to attain). This is Me Matih (my view — Krishna states it personally). But vashyatmana (for the vashyAtman — one whose self is controllable, who has brought it under vasha/control) yatata (striving) — shakyo avaptum upayatah (it CAN be attained by proper means). The word upayatah is key: through proper means/methods. The controlled self + proper method = attainment.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| असंयतात्मना | asamyatatmana | for one whose self is uncontrolled |
| दुष्प्रापः | dushprapah | difficult to attain, hard to reach |
| वश्यात्मना | vashyatmana | for one whose self is controlled |
| यततः | yatatah | of one who strives, who applies effort |
| उपायतः | upayatah | through proper means, by correct method |
| योगः | yogaḥ | yoga / this yoga (is difficult) |
| इति | iti | thus (this is My opinion) |
| मे | me | My / of Me |
| मतिः | matiḥ | opinion / view / thinking |
| तु | tu | but / however (but for the self-controlled it is possible) |
| शक्यः | śakyaḥ | possible / achievable |
| अवाप्तुम् | avāptum | to be attained / to achieve |