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Chapter 2 • Verse 67
The Yoga of Knowledge
MEANING & CONTEXT
Krishna reveals the mechanism from verse 2.66—how wisdom gets lost. Your senses naturally roam (indriyāṇāṁ caratām)—eyes scanning, ears seeking. The problem isn't this; it's when your mind becomes subordinate (mano 'nuvidhīyate) and follows them helplessly. This should be reversed: mind directs senses. But when mind follows instead, wisdom gets stolen (harati prajñām)—like wind blowing a boat on water (vāyur nāvam iva). A boat needs a helmsman steering; here it's blown helplessly. Similarly, your prajñā (discriminative wisdom) gets carried away when mind chases every sense impression.
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How this ancient wisdom applies to your daily life
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Key Takeaway
The average person checks their phone 96 times daily, mostly reactive. Modern life drowns us in stimuli—notifications, ads, endless sounds. This verse diagnosed the problem 5000 years ago: when senses wander (indriyāṇāṁ caratām) and mind follows subordinately (mano 'nuvidhīyate), wisdom gets blown away (harati prajñām). The solution isn't eliminating stimuli—it's changing who steers. Cultivate attentional sovereignty where your buddhi directs, not external triggers.
Personal Reflection
Am I living reactively, following wherever my senses lead? When I try to focus, does every stimulus hijack my attention? Can I notice things without automatically following them?
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