Chapter II · Śloka 60
यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः |
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ||
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ||
yatato hy api kaunteya puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ |
indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṃ manaḥ ||
indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṃ manaḥ ||
O son of Kunti, the turbulent senses forcibly carry away the mind even of a wise person who strives earnestly.
A frank concession of the difficulty: even the discriminating person (vipaścit) is not immune to the assault of the senses. This is not pessimism but realistic instruction — vigilance must be continuous, not occasional.