Bhagavad-gītā 3.43

Explain simply

Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa

एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना ।
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ॥४३॥

evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā
saṁstabhyātmānam ātmanā
jahi śatruṁ mahā-bāho
kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam

Word for word (synonyms)

evam
thus
buddheḥ
of intelligence
param
superior
buddhvā
so knowing
saṁstabhya
by steadying
ātmānam
the mind
ātmanā
by deliberate intelligence
jahi
conquer
śatrum
the enemy
mahā-bāho
O mighty-armed one
kāma-rūpam
the form of lust
durāsadam
formidable

Translation

Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to material senses, mind and intelligence, one should control the lower self by the higher self and thus—by spiritual strength—conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.

Purport

This Third Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā is conclusively directive to Kṛṣṇa consciousness by knowing oneself as the eternal servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without considering impersonal voidness as 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 sense gratification are the greatest enemies of the conditioned soul; but by the strength of Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa 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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness by higher intelligence.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Third Chapter of the Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītā in the matter of Karma-yoga, or the Discharge of One's Prescribed Duty in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.

What this verse teaches

One can conquer lust by regulating the senses and making the mind steady by deliberate spiritual intelligence.

In thematic compilations 1

Self-control

  • By deliberate spiritual intelligence one can control mind and senses (3.42 indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur..., 3.43 evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā...)
  • Role of buddhi: Self-control can be achieved by deliberate spiritual intelligence trained in Kṛṣṇa consciousness (3.43 evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā...)
Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures 1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.