Gita Chapter 3-42 & 43

Gita Chapter 3-42 & 43

indriyani paraanyaahur, indriyebhyah param manah |

manasastu paraa buddhiryo buddheh paratastu sah || (Gita 3-42)

Evam buddheh param buddhvaa samstabhyaatmaanama atmana |

Jahi satrum mahaabaaho kaamaroopam duraasadam || (Gita 3-43)

"It is said that the senses are superior to the gross body, greater (higher, more powerful, illuminating, pervasive and subtler) than the senses is the mind; greater than the mind is the intellect, but greater than the intellect is desire. Thus, knowing that desire is beyond intellect, subduing the self by one's self, destroy this, O mighty-armed Arjuna, the tough enemy in the form of desire, which is hard to conquer."

Comment:

Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Space, mind, intellect and ego - these eight constitute the Apara Prikriti (lower nature, Gita: 7-4). `Kama' resides in the inert portion of the ego, beyond the intellect. It means that the desire resides in the lower nature only and not in the Para Prakriti (Higher Nature). Due to imposition of ego on the consciousness, the Jivatma (embodied soul) believes it to be its own. As long as there is union of Jada & Chetan (inert matter & the consciousness) , until then the knowledge of Jada & Chetana as separate entities is not realized. As long as the imposition remains, there is Kama (desires). When the imposition of Jada on Chetan is removed then the Kama gets converted into love for God. With the presence of Kama, the attraction is towards the world while love takes the devotee towards God.

Iti srimad bhagavadgitasupanis atsu brahavidyayam

yogasastre sri krisnarjuna samvade Karma Yoga nama Tritiyo `ddhyayah ||

In the Upnishad of the Bhagavad Gita, the Knowledge of Brahman, the Supreme, the Science of Yoga and the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, this is the third discourse designated: `THE YOGA OF ACTION'.

From "Gita Prabodhani" in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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Chapter 3, Verse 43 is as follows;

Evam = thus

BuddheH = than the intellect

Param = more subtle / greater / superior

Buddhvaa = having known through the instrument of the Intellect

Samstabhya = having restrained / having made steady

Aatmaanam = the self

Aatmanaa = by the Self

Jahi = slay / kill / smite

Shatrum = the enemy

Mahaabaaho = O mighty armed!

Kaamarupam = in the form of desire / craving

Duraasadam = hard to conquer

English translation: -

O mighty armed (Arjuna), thus knowing Him (the Atman) as superior to the Intellect, restraining the self by the Self; kill the enemy in the form of desire, which is difficult to conquer.

Comment:

Whenever a human desire is centred on the Physical body, the Sensory organs, the Mind and the Intellect; the `Jeevaatmaa' i.e. individualized embodied self is fostered with a sense of `SukhaH' i.e. happiness. But please note that every such kind of happiness is sooner or later bound to reappear as a `DukhaH' i.e. misery. It is a packaged deal. One cannot expect only happiness or only misery. Therefore you have to accept it as a `fait accompli' i.e. something that has already happened and very unlikely to be reversed. One has to treat it as a done deal.

However, if you are not satisfied with this pre-ordained done deal, then the only alternative left to you is `Vairaagya' i.e. renunciation of both `SukhaH' and `DukhaH' i.e. convert that desire for involvement in worldly affairs and resultant sensual, emotional and intellectual pleasures coupled with material acquisitions into `Ananya Bhakti' i.e. a dedicated and unswerving devotion for the `Paramatmaa' i.e. the Supreme Being.

No wonder that the last phrase in every Sat-Sang / discourse is "Om Shree RaamaH KrishnaH ArpaNastu" i.e. in the end all this is dedicated to the Avatars of All-mighty Lord VishNu namely Lord Raama and Lord Krishna.

"No sooner is a thief detected than he takes to his heels. When you know the nature of `Maayaa', it flees from you." ………….. Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa

Whenever a base desire vanishes, the little embodied self dwindles away, the Real Self emerges and after removal of clouds of `A-Dnyaana' i.e. ignorance; human life shines with the glory of the Aatman and infinitude bliss becomes patent.

Lord Krishna's practical approach consists of two components as follows;

1. Remove the `AavaraNa' i.e. the invisible cover on the Intellect, which exists in the form of ignorance of the knowledge of the Self, the Aatman. The spiritual ignorance is the genesis of relentless desires. You will realise that in your deluded state, each Saadhaka is nothing more than a little ego that is limited, bound, finite and ever-sobbing for being trapped in the self perceived miserable and disconsolate state.

2. Reduce the `Vikalpa' i.e. mental agitations of the wavering Mind, which reduce the sharp focus of the Intellect. This is possible by restraining the embodied self by the Self.

You have to have a progressive judicious mix of rotations of these two pedals of the wheel of progress in your life. Without self control, any attempt to acquire knowledge will remain futile. On the other hand, if you force self-restraint without acquiring knowledge, you will continue to be suppressed, oppressed, repressed and depressed human being just like a ticking time bomb that will eventually explode and annihilate you.

The conventional and traditional wisdom states that knowledge is supreme and each logical conclusion brings in the highest good for the mankind. But this is limited to seeking solutions and happiness in the external environment.

The famous German philosopher Schopenhauer has said, "Materialism is the subject of philosophy for those who forget to take proper account of their inner-selves and therefore it is the philosophy of the extroverts for the extroverts." Thus, the acquisition of knowledge of the subtlest of the subtle i.e. the Brahman is possible only upon self-introspection, which in turn helps you to increase practice of self-restraint; while practice of self-restraint enhances your capacity to acquire spiritual wisdom. Please refer verses 5 to 12 in Chapter 13 as excellent representation of this fundamental concept by Lord Krishna.

In `Dnyaaneshwaree' Santa Dnyaaneshwara has given a beautiful simile as follows;

"Just as the mirage melts, when the Sun is set,

Only when they (desires) melt, the Brahman is felt,

And within your heart only Peace will dwell."

In conclusion, Lord Krishna expounds the necessity for the performance of work without any selfish attachment to results, with a view to securing the welfare of the entire world; with the realisation that agency belongs to the three modes of Prakruti. Lord Krishna's advice to Arjuna is "Control your restless Ego by the light of the Eternal Spiritual Self. One who knows that becomes truly independent and asks guidance from no other external power except his / her Inner Luminous Source of light, the Aatman."