Under the BanyanOld stories, illustrated and annotated

Bhagavad Gita 2.60

Chapter 2, verse 60

Meaning

Kaunteya, even a wise person who is genuinely trying can have their mind seized and dragged off by the senses, because they are turbulent and forceful.

The Sanskrit

यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः ।
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ॥ ६० ॥

yatato hy api kaunteya puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ
indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṃ manaḥ

Say it

yuh-tuh-to hyuh-pi kown-tay-yuh poo-roo-shuh-syuh vi-puh-shchi-tuh-hu
in-dri-yaa-ni pruh-maa-thee-ni huh-run-ti pruh-suh-bhum muh-nuh-hu

Word by word

yatataḥ hi api
even while striving / practising
kaunteya
son of Kuntī (Arjuna)
puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ
of a discerning, wise person
indriyāṇi pramāthīni
the turbulent, agitating senses
haranti prasabham manaḥ
forcibly carry away the mind
Read it in context: verses 2.57–60Like a tortoise drawing in its limbsWith the story so far, commentary, and today's lesson: Saying no is not yet being free

Another translation and audio recitation: verse 2.60 on holy-bhagavad-gita.org.