Bhagavad Gita 3.42इन्द्रियाणि 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.
Hindi translation
।।3.42 -- 3.43।। इन्द्रियोंको (स्थूलशरीरसे) पर (श्रेष्ठ, सबल, प्रकाशक, व्यापक तथा सूक्ष्म) कहते हैं। इन्द्रियोंसे पर मन है, मनसे भी पर बुद्धि है औऱ जो बुद्धिसे भी पर है, वह (काम) है। इस तरह बुद्धिसे पर - (काम-) को जानकर अपने द्वारा अपने-आपको वशमें करके हे महाबाहो ! तू इस कामरूप दुर्जय शत्रुको मार डाल।
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…
- 3.37The Blessed Lord said, "It is desire and it is anger, both of the quality of Rajas,…
- 3.38As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, and as an embryo is…
- 3.39O Arjuna, wisdom is enveloped by this constant enemy of the wise, in the form of desire,…
- 3.40The senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these, it deludes…
- 3.41Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, control your senses first and then kill this sinful…
3.42They say that the senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the…
- 3.43Thus, knowing Him who is superior to the intellect and restraining the self by the Self,…
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
- 18.52Dwelling in solitude, eating sparingly, with speech, body, and mind subdued, always…
- 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,…
- 12.11If you are unable to do even this, then, resort to union with Me and renounce the fruits…