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Chapter 03, Verse 39
श्रीभगवानुवाच:
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा।
कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च॥ 39॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca:
avrtam gyanam etena gyanino nitya-vairina |
kama-rupena kaunteya duspurenanalena ca ||3.39||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
श्रीभगवानुवाच: (sri-bhagavan uvaca) |
The Supreme Lord said: This marks Krishna’s first direct
speech in the Bhagavad Gita, where he begins guiding
Arjuna. |
|
आवृतम् (avrtam) |
Covered, enveloped |
|
ज्ञानम् (gyanam) |
Knowledge |
|
एतेन (etena) |
By this |
|
ज्ञानिनः (gyaninah) |
Of the wise/knower |
|
नित्यवैरिणा (nitya-vairina) |
Eternal enemy |
|
कामरूपेण (kama-rupena) |
In the form of desire |
|
कौन्तेय (kaunteya) |
O son of Kunti (Arjuna) |
|
दुर्निर्विणेन (duspurena) |
Insatiable, difficult to satisfy |
|
अनलेन (analena) |
By fire |
|
च (ca) |
And |
Translation
“Therefore, a man’s pure consciousness is covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.”
Context of the Verse:
“This verse is taken from Chapter 3: Karma-Yoga (Yoga through the path of Action) where Krishna reveals to Arjuna the significance of performing his duty as a warrior and fight in the battle of Mahabharata) and the hazards that poses (desire- Kama) etc. Here Krishna indicates one significant stumbling block to realisation and knowledge – desire (lust). Discerning minds may be darkened even in those that are wise. That way to sin was discussed in the verse prior to this one.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Judiciousness, that virtue which the dictum of religion says is mother of wisdom and presumption its enemy.
- Even though you r wise (Gyaninah), you aren’t insusceptible to lust.
- The end of desire is insatiable, for it is even as a fire when fed.
- Desire becomes a fierce internal opponent – elusive and deeply rooted.
- Desire has to be recognised and transcended by the seeker if he is to be established in Wisdom.
Relevance to Arjuna:
- Arjuna is girding up his loins with weapons to fight the Dharma Yudh, (War of Righteousness) but has turned dithered.
- Krishna is all about the internal battle, which is even more crucial than the external one.
- Subtler enemies of dharma are desire and attachment.
- Krishna is advising Arjuna to surmount the emotional and intellectual obstructions thrown up by attachment and desire which obscure righteous action.
Explanation:
“The enemy will harm you and sometimes even kill you, therefor harm us no evil from you.’ All damage is done by this enemy which is called lust and which is sitting in us. What is the lust Lord Krishna is talking. So, when something is alive if it forgets God contacts the matter. That who has the tendency of loving God that has become corrupt, just as what is nourishing becomes curd. We find this lust really nice. Give me my desire and that’s the worst one. It never satisfies, is what Krishna is saying here. And as we had life previous, it is as the irritating of an eczema sufferer who has a wet sore upon his body. If you touch it, the sore ones, itching increases and ultimately would begin to bleed. So also, the Kama is not to be satisfied-it is never satisfied-we have found, and Kama here does not simply mean sex pleasure. That’s the furthest that lust can go. Lust means any inclination for enjoying the senses, in a way of not directly dependent on Krishna’s enjoyment. That is called lust. Sexual pleasure isn’t even lust, for that matter. If they are using sex life or utilizing for begetting Krishna-conscious children, that also Krishna will describe later on.
“Krishna is not anti-sex life. Otherwise, why would he describe the Grihasth-Ashram, it should be ashram. All of them are meant for spiritual elevation. When sex life is a pastime for spiritual advancement. All right.’ When such a spiritualized soul comes into this junk shop Then sex life, Krishna, I am that sex life. So, sex life is allowed, but if it is for spiritual progress, then spiritual quality is brought in this life, the chanting the mantra’s, purification of consciousness, it should be done in accurate time, many rules are there. If somebody tries to enjoy sex pleasure only for his own sense gratification, that is called lust. If one indulges in either of these senses, for one’s own enjoyment, that is called lust. The very lust is even to have a name and fame, an honour in the society, that is also still including the lust. So, what to speak of the tendency, any kind of tendency independent of that, that is lust, and I think, if I can satisfy my tongue, my skin, my genital or my politics, my This is sense of enjoyment. And yet have we not tried; we are never content. We want more sex. Sex with different partners with different genders with different species also. It is never satisfied. You eat , you want to eat more different types of food in different places. Never satisfied. You want to watch videos, you want to watch more and more, never get enough. You want to watch videos, you want to watch more and more, never get enough. It burns like fire. The more fuel you pump into it, the more it burns. So there a person is totally frustrated and confused. That’s why United States of America remains a vowed among one of the most depressed nation in the world for last three, four years- World Health Organization. They have so much GDP, nice technological advancement, most advanced defence. “The nice warships, that look good; the nice commandos, they are all really good; the tanks are great …” he said. Even a person who is unemployed has money. Decent education, state education, decent healthcare, it’s all here. But why? Depression? And we see in our own life as well that lust is never satisfied. You have ten million rupees, now you want a hundred million. And why the finest brains can’t comprehend it, for Krishna says in the next verse 2.40.”
Chapter 40
इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते।
एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् || 3.40||
indriyani mano buddhir asyadhisthanam uchyate |
etair vimohayatyesha gyanam avritya dehinam || 3.40||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
इन्द्रियाणि (indriyani) |
Senses |
|
मनः (manah) |
Mind |
|
बुद्धिः (buddhih) |
Intellect |
|
अस्य (asya) |
Of this (desire) |
|
अधिष्ठानम् (adhisthanam) |
Dwelling place, seat |
|
उच्यते (uchyate) |
Is called |
|
एतैः (etaih) |
By these |
|
विमोहयति (vimohayati) |
Deludes |
|
एषः (esha) |
This (desire) |
|
ज्ञानम् (gyanam) |
Knowledge |
|
आवृत्य (avritya) |
Covering |
|
देहिनम् (dehinam) |
The embodied soul |
Translation
This lust becomes manifest in the body of the conditioned soul, and a chaste woman describes it properly. In the Adi Purana this is confirmed as follows: “The senses, the mind, and the intelligence in the body of a conditioned soul all become the sitting places of this lust, which veils the real knowledge of the living entity and bewilders him.”
Context of the Verse:
- Speaker: Lord Krishna (the Supreme God) is talking to Arjuna.
- Previous Verse (3:39): He says desire (Kama) is the eternal enemy, which fills the wise with desire to burn in the flame of the knowledge.
- And this Verse (3:40) : Krishna explains the mechanism of desire, which, by dwelling in the senses, mind, and intellect, it obscures understanding and deludes the embodied soul.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- Desire as a Subtle Force:
- Desire does not work alone; it works through the senses, mind, and intellect to affect the soul.
- Even those further along the level of spiritual progress must be aware to keep its influence at bay.
- Mechanism of Delusion:
- Perception is distorted by desire, layered over wisdom (gyanam avritya).
- It causes the soul (the incarnated being) to confuse fleeting pleasures with happiness.
- Battlefield Within:
- The true battle is not external (as with Arjuna’s war) but internal, mastering the mind and senses.
Relevance to Arjuna:
- Arjuna from consideration of attachment (desire for family, apprehension of sin).
- Krishna responds that it is his desires that have clouded his duty to his people as a warrior.
- The verse readies Arjuna (and all searchers) to perceive and to master longing with self-control and insight.
Explanation:
Why can’t we get it? For, as we examine the issue, this strategic seat of the enemy is the first place that must be understood, before waging the war. So, before we try to fight lust, we have to know where the lust is sitting. So, Krishna He is speaking here that This is His function, to find out where is the enemy – external enemy, because that is not enemy, the enemy sitting in senses, mind, intelligence. We can’t do anything about it the lust is sitting on the intelligence, a person can’t even understand this much also.
Chapter 41
तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ।
पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् || 3.41||
tasmat tvam indriyani adau niyamya bharatarshaba |
papmanam prajahi hy enam gyana-vigyana-nasanam || 3.41||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
तस्मात् (tasmat) |
Therefore |
|
त्वम् (tvam) |
You |
|
इन्द्रियाणि (indriyani) |
Senses |
|
आदौ (adau) |
First |
|
नियम्य (niyamya) |
Restrain |
|
भरतर्षभ (bharatarshaba) |
O best of the Bharatas (Arjuna)
|
|
पाप्मानम् (papmanam) |
The sinful (desire) |
|
प्रजहि (prajahi) |
Destroy |
|
हि (hi) |
Indeed |
|
एनम् (enam) |
This |
|
ज्ञान-विज्ञान-नाशनम् (gyana-vigyana-nasanam) |
The destroyer of knowledge and wisdom |
Translation
“So, O Arjuna, best of the Bharatas (descendants of Bharata), in the very beginning, you should examine this great symbol of sin (lust) by regulating the senses with intelligence and should kill this destroyer of knowledge and self-realisation.
Context of the Verse:
- Speaker: Lord Krishna (the Supreme God) Himself, speaking with Arjuna (the warrior) on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
- Prior Verses (3.39-40): Krishna talks about how Kama (desire) is present in the senses, mind, and intellect, deluding wisdom.
- This (3.41) verse Another side (vyavaharika): Krishna advises Arjuna to conquer desires which impede Gyana and Vigyana, by controlling the senses.
Key Teachings in This Verse:
- The First Step is Sense Control:
- Before becoming one’s own master, one has to rule the senses, which are doors to desire.
- Just as it is true for example, as mentioned in Bhagavad Gita 2.58, “One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness.”
- Desire is the Ultimate Enemy:
- To the one named Papmanam (sinful), it causes ruin to intellectual wisdom and experience (Gyana-Vigyana-Nasanam).
- Even the wise are deluded therewith, unless it is conquered.
- Proactive Effort is Required:
- Krishna entreats Arjuna to “slay” (Prajahi) desire, as if it were a war fought against obstinacy.
Relevance to Arjuna:
- Arjuna’s reluctance toward war was due to attachment (a form of desire) – fear of sin, love of family.
- Krishna then informs Arjuna that fulfilling his Kshatriya (warrior) duty (Dharma) demands that he transcend sensory addictions.
- The sloka upholds karma yoga (selfless actions): you do your duty without being conditioned by desire.
Explanation:
So, it is called Gyan Vigyan Nashnam, Gyan means knowledge of soul, not of body. It is Nashnam. So, if I contaminate my Self if I say kind of and prove Gyan Nashanam, once you believe I am this body, then Gyan Nashanam and the Vigyan means you are your soul only. I am not the body’s one level Gyan Shabd means ‘I am not the body, then who am I? I am not that kid to my parents. Then who are my parents? If I am not a citizen of this country, which country do I belong to, who am I really? Then what is that core to which the soul in this body belongs? This is the outward identity and it is an imposter. We want to know what is my relationship with God, how do I maintain that relationship. This is what is known as Vigyan knowledge specific to the soul. So is Gyan and Vigyan lost (Gyan Vigyan Nashanam). No matter how much we try and intuit, use our brains. We will miss this fundamental spiritual truth of that I am not this body. If we commit lusty activities. That is, Krishna is saying get rid of the fire, the disease and the enemy in the beginning itself. You can’t, when they accumulate later. They’ll kill you. Now, how to get out of this lust, Krishna is explaining, controlling lust. That is why. Brahmachari must be trained to control the senses very nicely and he should work only for Guru’s satisfaction. Essentia should be regulated in such a manner that, so this training of what we are talking has this full training was done in the Gurukul.
You might be the son of King, but you are working to a menial servant, you are going out to beg arms and whatever you have collected, you don’t have right to feel that it is yours. You offer everything to guru. You may have many gold coins also give it to Guru. And you are very much dependent on Guru. And if Guru doesn’t call you for lunch, you’re expected to decline to eat. So, nothing belongs to me. All is Spiritual Master’s. This training was given. So, in the starting it mentioned in Bhagatam also. It is to be taught from about five years of age or it is hard to manage later. So Brahmachari practises this control of the sense. So, it is very easy. They are able to stick in very nice Grihastha and many times they skip coming to Sanyas straight because senses are so perfectly controlled, they are trained to see every woman as mother. So that they can control and, “Finish off this enemy” or lust at the very outset, very easily for them! But we need not despair as what we do next. Krishna consciousness is very strong.
This, Buddhi Yoga, it is recommended by Krishna that even a late beginner who has just now begun to follow the rules and regulations can also make a perfect life. So, it doesn’t matter, we could be late, but if we’re honest and serious. Then we also can, everyone in lay position also can become lover of God. But one should know that the lust is sitting, intelligence is sitting, lust is sitting, and mind is sitting, senses are sitting like that, on our intelligence, lust is sitting, on our mind, lust is sitting, on our senses, so our mind and intelligence will never guide. That’s why I know I had been doing this lusty activity before, how I was punished, other men, they do this lusty activity, they are put in jail. If I become a condemned to death (or) even I lose my life…or I will go to become sent person, but people are doing lusty commercially l-activity, because intelligence is covered. Why can we not see why this primitive logic — that lust is like fire and that fire never says enough, is never satisfied. So, if I try to fulfil the lust The more it’s going to increase. So, it continues: personal ‘s demand is unlimited. So, what we have to do is convert it again into love of God. So, it is very difficult when love of God is transformed to lust, but by the process of Buddhi Yoga Krishna consciousness, it can be transformed. It may be, but when you have to follow very strictly the rules and regulations, does not matter on your mind and senses, it depends on Krishna’s mind, Krishna’s intelligence, the intelligence of the guru, intelligence of the sages. Then our intelligence is to be purified, and we can understand all these logics very nicely. Know, I am not body, I am soul. What is my real constitutional status?