Doubt

When that which is both the highest and the lowest is seen, the knot of the heart is cut asunder, all doubts are destroyed, and all karma is exhausted.

Arjuna said: Your birth was later; the birth of Vivasvan was earlier. How am I to understand that you declared this yoga in the beginning?

Arjuna said: Then what is it that impels a person to commit sin, O Varshneya, even unwillingly — as if driven by force?

With speech that seems mixed and ambiguous, you seem to confuse my understanding. Tell me with certainty just one thing by which I may attain what is truly good.

Arjuna said: If you hold that discernment is superior to action, O Janardana, then why do you urge me toward this terrible action, O Keshava?

Has this been heard by you, O Partha, with a focused mind? Has the confusion born of your ignorance been destroyed, O Dhananjaya?

Therefore, with the sword of your own knowledge, cut away this doubt born of ignorance that lodges in your heart — rise up and take your stand in yoga, O Bharata.

Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, O destroyer of enemies, how can I shoot arrows in battle against Bhishma and Drona, who are worthy of my deepest reverence?

O Krishna, you alone are fit to cut this doubt of mine completely away. Truly, no one other than you is capable of dispelling this uncertainty.

Arjuna said: One who has faith but lacks perseverance, whose mind has strayed from yoga — without reaching the perfection of yoga, O Krishna, what path does such a person tread?

Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, this yoga of equanimity that you have described — I do not see how it can stand firm, given the restlessness of the mind.

Nor do we know which is the greater for us — to conquer them or to be conquered by them. The very sons of Dhritarashtra stand before us, those by whose slaying we could not wish to live.

And I see only ill omens, O Keshava. I cannot perceive what good can come from slaying my own kinsmen in battle.

Does such a one not perish, fallen from both paths, like a cloud torn apart — rootless, O mighty-armed Krishna, bewildered on the road to the Absolute?

The ignorant, the faithless, and the one whose self is filled with doubt — all perish. For the doubt-ridden soul there is neither this world, nor the next, nor any happiness.

Then, O lord of the earth, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra arrayed for battle and the weapons poised to fly, Arjuna — he whose banner bears the monkey — raised his bow and spoke these words to Hrishikesha.

This alone is Śiva, this alone is Śiva, this alone is Śiva, this alone is Śiva — by my authority, by my authority, by my authority, by my authority.

The Lord said: O Goddess, you are my very Self. Out of my love for you I shall speak. This question of yours, which benefits all the world, has never been asked by anyone before.

The mind can be controlled and annihilated through self-enquiry, by questioning 'Who am I?'. This is the most effective method. It leads to the annihilation of the mind. This approach is based on Vedanta. One can realize the illusory nature of the mind through philosophical contemplation.

The five obstacles to meditation - desire, ill will, lethargy, restlessness, and doubt - should be removed.