The senses are higher than the body; the mind is higher than the senses; the discerning mind is higher than the mind. What is beyond the discerning mind, however, is desire.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.42
Hindi · हिन्दी
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 अपनेआपको वशमें करके हे महाबाहो तू इस कामरूप दुर्जय शत्रुको मार डाल ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
इन्द्रियाणिthe sensesपराणिhigherआहुःthey sayइन्द्रियेभ्यःthan the sensesपरम्higherमनःthe mindमनसःthan the mindतुbutपराhigherबुद्धिःthe discerning mindयःwhichबुद्धेःthan the discerning mindपरतःhigherतुbutसःthat
Read literallythe senses · higher · they say · than the senses · higher · the mind · than the mind · but · higher · the discerning mind · which · than the discerning mind · higher · but · that
Understanding the verse
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It teaches you to locate impulse before it becomes action, and to use discernment before desire takes over.
The senses are above the body, the mind is above the senses, and the discerning mind is above the mind. Beyond even the discerning mind stands desire, which must be mastered.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands frozen while Krishna traces the chain that drives collapse: body, senses, mind, discerning mind, and then desire. This verse shows where control must begin, so Arjuna can fight the inner enemy before facing the outer one.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You open your phone to check one message and lose twenty minutes. The pull did not start in your hands; it rose from deeper layers. You can catch it earlier.
The takeaway
“You are not helpless before impulse. There is a level in you that can overrule it.”
Explore related themes: manas(49 verses), buddhi(26 verses), kama(23 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 3.42 mean?
The senses are above the body, the mind is above the senses, and the discerning mind is above the mind. Beyond even the discerning mind stands desire, which must be mastered.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.42?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 3.42?
Verse 42 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 3.42 matter today?
You open your phone to check one message and lose twenty minutes. The pull did not start in your hands; it rose from deeper layers. You can catch it earlier.
It teaches you to locate impulse before it becomes action, and to use discernment before desire takes over.
What this verse means
The senses are above the body, the mind is above the senses, and the discerning mind is above the mind. Beyond even the discerning mind stands desire, which must be mastered.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands frozen while Krishna traces the chain that drives collapse: body, senses, mind, discerning mind, and then desire. This verse shows where control must begin, so Arjuna can fight the inner enemy before facing the outer one.
Why this verse still matters
You open your phone to check one message and lose twenty minutes. The pull did not start in your hands; it rose from deeper layers. You can catch it earlier.
“You are not helpless before impulse. There is a level in you that can overrule it.”
Explore related themes: manas (49 verses), buddhi (26 verses), kama (23 verses)