Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 3 › Verse 34
Bhagavad Gītā 3.34: Likes and dislikes
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ ।
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ ॥
indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau
tayorna vaśamāgacchettau hyasya paripanthinau
Recitation: NehalDaveND (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0, adapted, original recording
Meaning
Attraction and aversion toward the objects of each sense are firmly set; one should not come under their sway, for they are one’s adversaries on the path. Nature (3.33) cannot be erased, but rāga and dveṣa need not be obeyed; this is where effort belongs.
For children
Krishna says: “Our eyes, ears and tongue like some things and don’t like others. Don’t let likes and dislikes boss you around!”
After 3.33, Kṛṣṇa shows where effort belongs: in not being ruled by likes and dislikes.
Word by word
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे — Each sense, with its own object
- indriya: sense
- artha: object
रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ — has its likes and dislikes
- rāga: liking, attraction
- dveṣa: dislike, aversion
- vyavasthita: seated, set
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत् — do not fall under their power
- tayoḥ: of these two
- vaśa: power, control
- āgacchet: should come under
तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ — for they are enemies on the way
- tau: these two
- paripanthin: enemy, robber on the road
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.