evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā sanstabhyātmānam ātmanā
jahi śhatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam || 43||

My Understanding : The “self” (Me) is more powerful than intelligence. Through the buddhi (intellect), manasu (mind), and senses, we identify ourselves as “I.” However, the soul is even more powerful. From the soul arise kama (desire) and krodha (anger), and it is the soul that ultimately governs them.

indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ
manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ || 42||

My Understanding : We must control our senses, as the conscience is more powerful than them. Through food, our body is sustained, and in turn, the senses function. Behavior, however, is even more powerful than the conscience. It is through intelligence that we are able to distinguish between good and bad deeds.

tasmāt tvam indriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣhabha
pāpmānaṁ prajahi hyenaṁ jñāna-vijñāna-nāśhanam || 41||

My Understanding : Controlling is not about suppressing desires, but about engaging in good deeds that align with your true nature. Your senses should willingly accept and be in harmony with these actions.

indriyāṇi mano buddhir asyādhiṣhṭhānam uchyate
etair vimohayatyeṣha jñānam āvṛitya dehinam || 40||

My Understanding : Loving everyone, serving others, and seeing God in everything are practices that one should embrace. Additionally, it is crucial to control both the mind and the senses.

āvṛitaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā
kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya duṣhpūreṇānalena cha || 39||

My Understanding : Lust clouds your intelligence and becomes your greatest enemy. It draws you toward many things, leading you to commit sinful acts. Desires and attachments make you fall prey to your own inner enemy. Therefore, it is essential to always control yourself.

dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśho malena cha
yatholbenāvṛito garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛitam  || 38||

My Understanding : Just like a mirror collects dust, and only by cleaning it can you see a clear reflection of yourself, your mind becomes clouded with kama (desire) and krodha (anger). Without these, you would act differently. Behavior stems from the heart and the senses. In the womb, the soul is pure, untouched by anything. But once you are born, the soul becomes clouded, covered by the influences of the world.

śhrī bhagavān uvācha
kāma eṣha krodha eṣha rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśhano mahā-pāpmā viddhyenam iha vairiṇam || 37||

My Understanding : People perform these actions due to kama (desire) and krodha (anger). Without these influences, a person would live differently, and their actions would reflect a positive impact on their life.

arjuna uvācha
atha kena prayukto ’yaṁ pāpaṁ charati pūruṣhaḥ
anichchhann api vārṣhṇeya balād iva niyojitaḥ || 36||

My Understanding : Kama and Krodha – The three gunas are a part of nature, and it is the soul’s nature to be influenced by them. We often find ourselves doing things we don’t like; even though we may feel bad, we do them to make others happy. Deep down, our heart knows when something is not aligned with our desires, yet we still carry out those actions. Arjuna asked Krishna about this very dilemma.

śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ || 35||

My Understanding : Swadharma – One should follow their heart and act in alignment with both their heart and Krishna’s path. Even if there are flaws in the process, we should perform our duties wholeheartedly. It is important to follow dharma. When you follow Krishna’s path and surrender to Him, you will be free from feelings of good or bad, happiness or sadness, because you are acting in accordance with dharma. If you chase after the results of others’ actions, you will face challenges, but not the true fruits of your labor. It is always better to follow your own dharma (swadharma) than to follow the dharma of others (paradharma).

indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣhau vyavasthitau
tayor na vaśham āgachchhet tau hyasya paripanthinau || 34||

My Understanding : If you lack the temperance to refrain from actions that should not be done, then your knowledge holds no value. We must purify our conscience by cultivating good intentions.