BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:42

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:42

 

indriyani parany ahur

indriyebhyah param manah

manasas tu para buddhir

yo buddheh paratas tu sah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

indriyani--senses; parani--superior; ahuh--are said;

indriyebhyah--more than the senses; param--superior; manah--the mind;

manasah--more than the mind; tu--also; para--superior;

buddhih--intelligence; yah--who; buddheh--more than the intelligence;

paratah--superior; tu--but; sah--he.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than

the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the

soul] is even higher than the intelligence.

 

PURPORT

 

The senses are different outlets for the activities of lust. Lust is

reserved within the body, but it is given vent through the senses.

Therefore, the senses are superior to the body as a whole. These

outlets are not in use when there is superior consciousness, or Krsna

consciousness. In Krsna consciousness the soul makes direct connection

with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore the hierarchy of

bodily functions, as described here, ultimately ends in the Supreme

Soul. Bodily action means the functions of the senses, and stopping

the senses means stopping all bodily actions. But since the mind is

active, then even though the body may be silent and at rest, the mind

will act--as it does during dreaming. But above the mind is the

determination of the intelligence, and above the intelligence is the

soul proper. If, therefore, the soul is directly engaged with the

Supreme, naturally all other subordinates, namely, the intelligence,

mind and senses, will be automatically engaged. In the Katha Upanisad

there is a similar passage, in which it is said that the objects of

sense gratification are superior to the senses, and mind is superior

to the sense objects. If, therefore, the mind is directly engaged in

the service of the Lord constantly, then there is no chance that the

senses will become engaged in other ways. This mental attitude has

already been explained. param drstva nivartate. If the mind is engaged

in the transcendental service of the Lord, there is no chance of its

being engaged in the lower propensities. In the Katha Upanisad the

soul has been described as mahan, the great. Therefore the soul is

above all--namely, the sense objects, the senses, the mind and the

intelligence. Therefore, directly understanding the constitutional

position of the soul is the solution of the whole problem.

 

With intelligence one has to seek out the constitutional position of

the soul and then engage the mind always in Krsna consciousness. That

solves the whole problem. A neophyte spiritualist is generally advised

to keep aloof from the objects of the senses. But aside from that, one

has to strengthen the mind by use of intelligence. If by intelligence

one engages one's mind in Krsna consciousness, by complete surrender

unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then, automatically, the mind

becomes stronger, and even though the senses are very strong, like

serpents, they will be no more effective than serpents with broken

fangs. But even though the soul is the master of intelligence and

mind, and the senses also, still, unless it is strengthened by

association with Krsna in Krsna consciousness, there is every chance

of falling down due to the agitated mind.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.