Krishna gives the foundational algorithm of all meditation. He acknowledges the baseline state of the mind: it is flickering, restless (cañcalam), and chronically unsteady (asthiram). Therefore, from wherever and toward whatever object (yato yato) the mind wanders and slips away (niścarati), from that very place and object (tatas tato), one must actively restrain and withdraw it (niyamya etad). Having withdrawn it, the Yogi must firmly bring it back under the control (vaśaṃ nayet) of the Self alone (ātmany eva).