Bhagavad Gita · 3.42 · Path of Selfless Service·42 of 43
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः ॥
indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ
manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ
Sanskrit recitation
Desire as the inner enemy · 3.36–3.43 · Teaching
Translation
They say that the senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is superior to the mind; and He (the Self) is superior even to the intellect.
Meaning
When compared with the physical body which is gross, external and limited, the senses are certainly superior as they are more subtle, internal and have a wider range of activity. The mind is superior to the senses, as the senses cannot do anything independently without the help of the mind. The mind can perform the functions of the five senses. The intellect is superior to the mind because it is endowed with the faculty of discrimination. When the mind is in a state of doubt, the intellect comes to its resuce. The Self, the Witness, is superior even to the intellect, as the intellect borrows its light from the Self.
After Swami Sivananda
Desire as the inner enemy· 3.36–3.43→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 3.36Arjuna said, "But what compels man to commit sin, even against his wishes, O Varshneya (Krishna), as if constrained by force?"
- 3.37The Blessed Lord said, "It is desire and it is anger, both of the quality of Rajas, all-devouring and all-sinful; know this as the foe here in this world."
- 3.38As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, and as an embryo is surrounded by the amniotic sac, so is this enveloped by that.
- 3.39O Arjuna, wisdom is enveloped by this constant enemy of the wise, in the form of desire, which is insatiable like fire.
- 3.40The senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these, it deludes the embodied one, veiling their wisdom.
- 3.41Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, control your senses first and then kill this sinful thing, which destroys knowledge and realization.
3.42They say that the senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is superior to the mind; and He (the Self) is superior even to the intellect.
- 3.43Thus, knowing Him who is superior to the intellect and restraining the self by the Self, slay thou, O mighty-armed Arjuna, the enemy in the form of desire, hard to conquer.
Word-by-word→
- tu
- but
- param
- superior
- parā
- superior
- saḥ
- that (soul)
- yaḥ
- who
- manaḥ
- the mind
- āhuḥ
- are said
- buddheḥ
- than the intellect
- buddhiḥ
- intellect
- manasaḥ
- than the mind
- parataḥ
- more superior
- parāṇi
- superior
- indriyāṇi
- senses
- indriyebhyaḥ
- than the senses
Related verses
- 3.28But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities…
- 3.34Attachment and aversion for the objects of the senses abide in the senses; let no one come…
- 6.9He who is of the same mind towards the good-hearted, friends, enemies, the indifferent,…
- 6.41Having attained to the worlds of the righteous and having dwelt there for everlasting…