Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 3 › Verse 41
Bhagavad Gītā 3.41: Start with the senses
तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ ।
पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् ॥
tasmāttvamindriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣabha
pāpmānaṃ prajahi hyenaṃ jñānavijñānanāśanam
Recitation: NehalDaveND (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0, adapted, original recording
Meaning
Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, first regulating the senses, cast off this sinful one, the destroyer of knowledge and realisation. Since desire’s outermost seat is the senses (3.40), discipline begins there; the inner work on mind and intellect follows (3.42–3.43).
For children
Krishna says: “So start by being the boss of your eyes, ears and tongue. Then you can beat the greedy wanting that spoils good thinking.”
Kṛṣṇa begins his practical answer to Arjuna’s question of 3.36.
Word by word
तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ — So first take charge of your senses
- tasmāt: therefore
- tvam: you
- indriya: sense
- ādau: first
नियम्य भरतर्षभ — O best of the Bharatas
- niyamya: taking charge of
- bharatarṣabha: best of the Bharatas (Arjuna)
पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं — and defeat this wrongdoer
- pāpman: wrongdoer, sin
- prajahi: defeat!, cast off!
- enam: this
ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् — that destroys wisdom and understanding
- jñāna: knowledge
- vijñāna: understanding, realisation
- nāśana: destroyer
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.