Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 41 (BG 3.41) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

3.41 तस्मात् therefore? त्वम् you? इन्द्रियाणि the senses? आदौ in the beginning? नियम्य having controlled? भरतर्षभ O best of the Bharatas? पाप्मानम् the sinful? प्रजहि kill? हि surely? एनम् this? ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् the destroyer of knowledge and realisation (wisdom).Commentary Jnana is knowledge obtained through the study of scriptures. This is indirect knowledge or Paroksha Jnana. Vijnana is direct knowledge or personal experience or Anubhava through Selfrealisation or Aparoksha Jnana. Control the senses first and then kill desire.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

As has been stated before, Sri Krishna does not merely propound any truth without sufficient reasoning. Here too, after rational deliberation, He imparts the teaching of subduing the senses, through the accomplishment of which the desire dwelling in the inner consciousness can be destroyed. The reason desire is called sinful here is that in its gross form, it compels us to live a life of the most degraded level. Even when desire is sattvic like smoke, our pure infinite nature cannot be fully manifested. Therefore, all kinds of desires are said to be tinged with sin to a greater or lesser degree. It is simple for a physician to prescribe medicine for a patient, but if that medicine were made from a flower that blooms in the sky, the patient could never recover. Similarly, it is simple for a Teacher to impart the teaching of sense-restraint to a disciple, but unless the Teacher provides some means to accomplish it, that teaching will be considered as impossible as medicine made from a sky-flower. The question arises: by taking refuge in what object can we renounce this desire? The answer to this question is—