एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना ।
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ॥
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ॥
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 ॥
English
Thus, knowing the higher beyond the intellect, steady the lower self by the higher self, and destroy that enemy in the form of desire, which is hard to conquer.
What this verse means
Recognize that desire is not the highest force in you. Use your deeper discernment to steady yourself and overcome it.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is still frozen. Krishna has just mapped the chain from senses to mind to intellect, and now names the real enemy: desire. The teaching turns inward because the war begins inside.
Why this verse still matters
You open the app to check one message and end up scrolling for an hour. The urge feels automatic, but another part of you can still take the wheel.
The takeaway
You are not helpless before desire; a steadier part of you can lead.
Word-by-word translation
एवम् (thus) / बुद्धेः (of the intellect) / परम् (higher) / बुद्ध्वा (knowing) / संस्तभ्य (steadying) / आत्मानम् (the lower self) / आत्मना (by the higher self) / जहि (destroy) / शत्रुम् (enemy) / महाबाहो (mighty-armed one) / कामरूपम् (in the form of desire) / दुरासदम् (hard to conquer)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3: Karma Yoga — The Yoga of Action, which contains 43 verses.
Explore related themes: manas (49 verses), buddhi (26 verses), kama (23 verses)