BHAGAVAD-GITA 2:67

BHAGAVAD-GITA 2:67

indriyanam hi caratam
yan mano 'nuvidhiyate
tad asya harati prajnam
vayur navam ivambhasi

WORD FOR WORD

indriyanam--of the senses; hi--certainly; caratam--while roaming;
yat--with which; manah--the mind; anuvidhiyate--becomes constantly
engaged; tat--that; asya--his; harati--takes away;
prajnam--intelligence; vayuh--wind; navam--a boat; iva--like;
ambhasi--on the water.

TRANSLATION

As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the
roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man's
intelligence.

PURPORT

Unless all of the senses are engaged in the service of the Lord, even
one of them engaged in sense gratification can deviate the devotee
from the path of transcendental advancement. As mentioned in the life
of Maharaja Ambarisa, all of the senses must be engaged in Krsna
consciousness, for that is the correct technique for controlling the
mind.

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with
permission.