Chapter 3: Karma Yoga – Transforming All Activities into Yoga: Verse 41
तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ ।
पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् ।।
tasmāt-tvam-indriyāṇy-ādau niyamya bharatarṣabha
pāpmānaṃ prajahi hy-enaṃ jñāna-vijñāna-nāśanam – 3.41
Therefore, O best of Bharata lineage, restraining the senses first, exterminate this sinner, which is destructive to knowledge as well as Self-realization.
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga – Transforming All Activities into Yoga - Verse 41
Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha
Krishna had clarified that spiritual restraint cannot be wrought externally by another. Self-effort alone is the right means for it.
Here he specifies that the restraint has to be applied equally to the senses, mind and intelligence. All the three are closely interconnected. Mind employs senses, and intelligence directs the mind. Passion enfolds all the three. So a three-pronged effort is needed.
A right evaluation that passion is a full-fledged sinner, out to destroy one’s knowledge as well as the effort to realize the essence of that knowledge, will be essential.
Purify the mind by reforming and refining the very thought process. By introspection, examine and assess the mind structure. By infusional introspection enlighten the intelligence more and more, and bring about emotional and rational enrichment, strengthening and embellishing the inner personality.
