In Bhagavad Gita 3.34, Krishna says attachment and aversion are seated in every sense toward its objects; one should not come under their sway, for they are one’s enemies on the path.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे
रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्
तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ ॥ ३-३४ ॥
indriyasyendriyasyārthe
rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau
tayorna vaśamāgacchet
tau hyasya paripanthinau
English transliteration indriyasyendriyasyaarthe
raagadveshau vyavasthitau
tayorna vashamaagachchhet
tau hyasya paripanthinau ॥ 3.34 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Attachment and aversion of each sense for its objects are firmly established. One should not come under their control, for they are obstacles on one’s path.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इन्द्रियस्य इन्द्रियस्य indriyasya indriyasya | of each sense |
| अर्थे arthe | in its object |
| रागद्वेषौ rāgadveṣau | attachment and aversion rāga (attachment) + dveṣau (aversion) |
| व्यवस्थितौ vyavasthitau | are established |
| तयोः tayoḥ | of these two |
| न na | not |
| वशम् vaśam | control |
| आगच्छेत् āgacchet | should come under |
| तौ tau | they |
| हि hi | indeed |
| अस्य asya | his |
| परिपन्थिनौ paripanthinau | enemies on the road, obstacles |
Word-wise Chanting
- in–dri–yas–yen–dri–yas–yār–the 8 syllables in-dri-yas-yen-dri-yas-yaar-the
- rā–gad–ve–ṣau vya–vas–thi–tau | 8 syllables raa-gad-ve-shau vya-vas-thi-tau
- ta–yor–na va–śa–mā–gac–chet– 8 syllables ta-yor-na va-sha-maa-gach-chhet-
- tau hyas–ya pa–ri–pan–thi–nau || 3-34 8 syllables tau hyas-ya pa-ri-pan-thi-nau
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 3 Verse 34
Context
Having said that nature cannot be suppressed (3.33), Krishna shows where the real effort lies.
Meaning
Each sense naturally likes some objects and dislikes others: rāga and dveṣa. These reactions are built in. Krishna does not ask us to remove them by force, but not to come under their control. They are paripanthin, robbers lying in wait on the road, ready to ambush the traveller.
The practical point is that freedom lies between the reaction and the response. We will feel likes and dislikes, but we do not have to obey them. With awareness, we can choose action guided by what is right rather than by what is pleasant or unpleasant.
In Practice
Today, when you feel a strong like or dislike, pause before acting. Choose your action by what is right, not by the reaction.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.