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Chapter 3 Verses 3.36–43

Conquering Lust, the Greatest Enemy

3.37–40 Insatiable lust causes material entanglement, covers knowledge and influences in three degrees.

3.41–43 One can conquer lust by regulating the senses and making the mind steady by deliberate spiritual intelligence.

A summary chart on the flow of Chapter Three 3.1–43
  1. 3.1-2 Arjuna's confusion – 'Renunciation or Action?'
  2. 3.3-16 Renunciation (jñāna-yoga) is difficult; prescribed action with detachment (niṣkāma-karma-yoga) is better for Arjuna; go from karma-kāṇḍa to karma-yoga.
  3. 3.17-35 Even if qualified for renunciation, Arjuna should do niṣkāma-karma-yoga to set the right example.
  4. 3.36-43 Lust is a formidable enemy; conquer it by deliberate spiritual intelligence.

The last step leads back to the first.