3. Selfless Service

Karm Yog

BG 3.37

Krishna said: It is desire and it is anger, born of passion. It consumes and corrupts all things. Know this to be the enemy here.

श्री भगवानुवाच
काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम्


  • śhrī bhagavān uvācha — Krishna said

  • kāma — desire

  • eṣha — this

  • krodha — wrath

  • eṣha — this

  • rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ — born of the quality of passion

    • rajo — passion, Rajas

    • guṇa — quality of material nature

    • samudbhavaḥ — born of

  • mahāśhano — all devouring
    mahā-aśhanaḥ—all-devouring

  • mahā-pāpmā — greatly sinful

    • mahā

    • pāpmā

  • viddhyenam — know this

    • viddhi — know

    • enam — this

  • iha — in this (world)

  • vairiṇam — the enemy

...3.36

Krishna said: It is desire and it is anger, born of passion. It consumes and corrupts all things. Know this to be the enemy here.

[37]

As fire is shrouded in smoke, a mirror covered by dust, and a fetus enveloped by the womb, so too is the universe enveloped by desire.

[38]

Wisdom is concealed by desire - it is the enemy of the wise, insatiable like fire.

[39]

The senses, mind, and intellect are its instruments, by which it deludes the soul and conceals its wisdom.

[40]

Therefore, first control your senses and then slay this sinful thing which destroys knowledge and insight.

[41]

It is said that the senses are powerful, but beyond the senses is the mind. Beyond the mind is the intellect, and beyond the intellect is the supreme self.

[42]

Thus, knowing that which is higher than the intellect, and restraining the mind in Karma Yoga, slay this enemy who takes the form of desire - one who is difficult to overcome.

[43]

Similar verses

Chapter 3, Verse 37