Bhagavad Gita 6.26
Krishna to Arjunaयतो यतो निश्चरति मनश्चञ्चलमस्थिरम् ।ततस्ततो नियम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् ॥ २६ ॥
Transliteration
yato yato niścaratimanaś cañcalam asthiramtatas tato niyamyaitadātmany eva vaśaṃ nayet
Wherever the restless and unsteady mind wanders, restraining it from there, one should bring it under control in the self.
Original King of Dwarka translationReflection inspired by Bhagavad Gita 6.26
The verse makes room for a mind that wanders. Return is part of the practice it describes, rather than proof that attention has failed.
Source & context
Krishna to Arjuna, within a sustained account of contemplative discipline. Ātman is translated self, without substituting a modern therapeutic technique.