BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:43

[Guest guest]

BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:43

 

evam buddheh param buddhva

samstabhyatmanam atmana

jahi satrum maha-baho

kama-rupam durasadam

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

evam--thus; buddheh--to intelligence; param--superior;

buddhva--knowing; samstabhya--by steadying; atmanam--the mind;

atmana--by deliberate intelligence; jahi--conquer; satrum--the enemy;

maha-baho--O mighty-armed one; kama-rupam--in the form of lust;

durasadam--formidable.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind

and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by

deliberate spiritual intelligence [Krsna consciousness] and thus--by

spiritual strength--conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.

 

PURPORT

 

This Third Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita is conclusively directive to

Krsna consciousness by knowing oneself as the eternal servitor of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, without considering impersonal

voidness the ultimate end. In the material existence of life, one is

certainly influenced by propensities for lust and desire for

dominating the resources of material nature. Desire for overlording

and for sense gratification is the greatest enemy of the conditioned

soul; but by the strength of Krsna consciousness, one can control the

material senses, the mind and the intelligence. One may not give up

work and prescribed duties all of a sudden; but by gradually

developing Krsna consciousness, one can be situated in a

transcendental position without being influenced by the material

senses and the mind--by steady intelligence directed toward one's pure

identity. This is the sum total of this chapter. In the immature stage

of material existence, philosophical speculations and artificial

attempts to control the senses by the so-called practice of yogic

postures can never help a man toward spiritual life. He must be

trained in Krsna consciousness by higher intelligence.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Third Chapter of the Srimad

Bhagavad-gita in the matter of Karma-yoga, or the Discharge of One's

Prescribed Duty in Krsna Consciousness.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.