Chapter 3 Shloka 42
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्य: परं मन:।
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धे: परतस्तु स:।।४२।।
The senses are powerful, but superior to the senses is the mind and superior to the mind is the intellect; far superior to the intellect is the Self, the Atma.
The Lord says, that even if the senses are powerful and in permanent contact with their objects, the mind is much stronger.
1. If the mind does not support them, the senses become powerless and stop dwelling in these objects.
2. If the mind does not support them, the senses do not gravitate towards objects.
3. If the mind develops interest in something else, the senses flow towards that object of interest.
4. When the mind no longer supports the senses, their interpretations become meaningless.
5. The mind is the enjoyer of the sense objects. If the mind has no interest in partaking of those objects, then the latter lose their charm, inspite of continuing contact.
6. If the mind is free of desire, it will no longer instigate the senses to pursue the objects of sense.
7. Then it will make no difference whether there is contact with the objects or not.
Yet the Lord has also warned us that if the mind continues to dwell in sense objects mentally, then it is fraudulent and deceitful. The mind should:
a) withdraw from the objects of sense;
b) cease its concentration on those objects;
c) renounce its taste for the sensations caused by objects.
The Lord then says that the intellect is stronger than the mind.
1. The intellect can explain the knowledge to the mind.
2. It can show the mind the difference between right and wrong.
3. It can attract the mind towards itself.
4. It can make noble attributes and ideals attractive for the mind.
5. It can cajole the mind.
6. It can impart the knowledge of Truth and falsehood to the mind.
7. It can gain mastery over the mind.
8. It can guide it through discussion and argument.
Beyond the intellect is the Atma. If the intellect starts looking towards the Atma then desires can be abolished.
Little one, if the intellect forgets the Atma and becomes subservient to the mind, and the mind disregards both the intellect and the Atma to serve the sense organs, then the sense organs, whose only function is contact with sense objects, starts clinging to those objects. Thus the objects assume mastery. The individual becomes blind and only desire for objects remains.
Attachment to the body is the root cause of this entire cycle which started the moment man regarded himself as the body and called himself ‘I’. As this attitude grew stronger, he became individualistic and abandoning Truth, he became a body-worshipper.
