Chapter 3Verse 40 of 43

Bhagavad Gita 3.40

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते । एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् ॥

indriyāṇi mano buddhir asyādhiṣṭhānam ucyate | etair vimohayaty eṣa jñānam āvṛtya dehinam ||

Translation

The senses, the mind, the intellect are said to be its seat; with these it deludes the embodied self, by enveloping his knowledge.

The enemy has an address. Senses, mind, intellect. Adhiṣṭhānam, the seat, the standing-place. The verse maps the architecture: desire is not floating; it occupies specific levels of the person. Through these levels, it deludes the embodied one by covering the knowing. Shankara: the map is given so the student can act precisely. You do not fight fire with general resistance. You find where the fire is sitting and deny it that seat. The next verse will name the order of the work.

Reflection

At which of the three levels does your particular pull live, most of the time?

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Three

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