bhagavad-gitagitakrishnaself-knowledge

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍀𑌤𑌾 ௩.௪௨ — 𑌇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑍁𑌃

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ३.४२ — इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुः in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning meditation, or before deep study and self-inquiry·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 42

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 42 · Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva) · Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)

Near the close of the Karma Yoga chapter, Arjuna asks what drives a person to sin as if by force. Krishna answers that desire (kama) born of rajas is the enemy, veiling wisdom and dwelling in the senses, mind and intellect. This verse charts the inner hierarchy so that the seeker, knowing the Self to be supreme, can rise above and subdue desire.

✦ As told in scripture

Seekers who steady the mind by the Self, as this verse and the next prescribe, report that even the fiercest cravings lose their grip — the desire that no force could conquer is dissolved by simply resting in the Atman beyond the intellect.

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The Mantra

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𑌇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑍁𑌰𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍇𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑌃। 𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌪𑌰𑌾 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍇𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌸𑌃॥

indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ

Meaning:इन्द्रियों को (शरीर से) श्रेष्ठ कहा जाता है; इन्द्रियों से श्रेष्ठ मन है, मन से श्रेष्ठ बुद्धि है, और जो बुद्धि से भी परे है, वह आत्मा है।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌿🔊indriyāṇithe senses

𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌿🔊parāṇisuperior (to the body)

𑌆𑌹𑍁𑌃🔊āhuḥthey say, it is said

𑌇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍇𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌃🔊indriyebhyaḥthan the senses

𑌪𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊paramsuperior, higher

𑌮𑌨𑌃🔊manaḥthe mind

𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌃🔊manasaḥthan the mind

𑌤𑍁🔊tubut, indeed

𑌪𑌰𑌾🔊parāsuperior, higher

𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌃🔊buddhiḥthe intellect

𑌯𑌃🔊yaḥwho, that which

𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍇𑌃🔊buddheḥthan the intellect

𑌪𑌰𑌤𑌃🔊parataḥhigher still, beyond

𑌸𑌃🔊saḥthat one (the Self, Atman)

Benefits of Chanting श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ३.४२ — इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुः

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Reveals the true Self (Atman) as distinct from body, senses, mind and intellect

✦

Gives a clear map for self-inquiry and inner discrimination (viveka)

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Empowers the seeker to govern the senses through the higher intellect and Self

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Helps in conquering desire, anger and restless impulses

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Deepens meditation by directing attention beyond mind and intellect

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Builds steadiness, clarity and mastery over the inner instruments

How to Chant श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ३.४२ — इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुः

Repetitions11times

Best TimeEarly morning meditation, or before deep study and self-inquiry

Recite the verse slowly and contemplate each step of the ladder — body, senses, mind, intellect, Self — turning attention inward and upward at each level until you rest as the witnessing Self beyond all of them. Use it whenever the senses or restless mind try to overpower you, to consciously take refuge in the higher intellect and the Atman. It is an excellent verse for cultivating viveka (discrimination) and self-mastery.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ३.४२ — इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुः written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It presents the hierarchy of the human being: the senses are higher than the body, the mind higher than the senses, the intellect higher than the mind, and the Self (Atman) is higher than even the intellect. Knowing this lets one identify with the true Self and govern the lower faculties.

Arjuna had asked what compels a person to act sinfully against their will; Krishna identified desire as the enemy seated in the senses, mind and intellect. This verse shows the seeker exactly where to take a stand — in the Self, above all of them — to defeat that enemy.

The mind (manas) gathers impressions and generates desires and doubts, while the intellect (buddhi) discriminates, decides and judges. Buddhi is subtler and superior, and when guided by the Self it can control the wavering mind and the senses.

By showing that the Self and intellect are higher than the mind and senses, it tells you to strengthen the higher faculties to rule the lower ones. The next verse advises: knowing the Self as supreme, steady the mind by the Self and conquer desire.