The senses are higher than the body; the mind is higher than the senses; the discerning mind is higher than the mind. And beyond the discerning mind is the self.
— 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. Tap 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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Krishna ranks the inner layers: senses above body, mind above senses, intellect above mind, and the self above all.
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 is the self.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna traces for Arjuna the layers inside a person: body, senses, mind, discerning mind, and beyond them the self. Knowing the self is higher than all of them is what lets Arjuna master desire, the enemy named in the verses before.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A woman on a diet sees the sweets at a wedding buffet. Her eyes want them first, then her mind builds reasons, and her judgment can still step in if she catches it early.
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 is the self.
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?
A woman on a diet sees the sweets at a wedding buffet. Her eyes want them first, then her mind builds reasons, and her judgment can still step in if she catches it early.
Krishna ranks the inner layers: senses above body, mind above senses, intellect above mind, and the self above all.
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 is the self.
Context & commentary
Krishna traces for Arjuna the layers inside a person: body, senses, mind, discerning mind, and beyond them the self. Knowing the self is higher than all of them is what lets Arjuna master desire, the enemy named in the verses before.
What it looks like today
A woman on a diet sees the sweets at a wedding buffet. Her eyes want them first, then her mind builds reasons, and her judgment can still step in if she catches it early.
“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)