In Bhagavad Gita 3.43, the final verse of Chapter 3, Krishna says: knowing the Self beyond the intellect, steadying the mind by the Self, slay the hard-to-conquer enemy in the form of desire.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा
संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो
कामरूपं दुरासदम् ॥ ३-४३ ॥
evaṃ buddheḥ paraṃ buddhvā
saṃstabhyātmānamātmanā
jahi śatruṃ mahābāho
kāmarūpaṃ durāsadam
English transliteration evam buddheh param buddhvaa
samstabhyaatmaanamaatmanaa
jahi shatrum mahaabaaho
kaamaroopam duraasadam ॥ 3.43 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Thus knowing That which is beyond the intellect, and steadying the self by the Self, O mighty-armed, slay this enemy in the form of desire, so hard to conquer.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एवम् evam | thus |
| बुद्धेः buddheḥ | than the intellect |
| परम् param | higher |
| बुद्ध्वा buddhvā | knowing |
| संस्तभ्य saṃstabhya | steadying |
| आत्मानम् ātmānam | the self, the mind |
| आत्मना ātmanā | by the Self |
| जहि jahi | slay |
| शत्रुम् śatrum | the enemy |
| महाबाहो mahābāho | O mighty-armed |
| कामरूपम् kāmarūpam | in the form of desire kāma (desire) + rūpam (form) |
| दुरासदम् durāsadam | hard to conquer |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–vaṃ bud–dheḥ pa–raṃ bud–dhvā 8 syllables e-vam bud-dheh pa-ram bud-dhvaa
- saṃs–tabh–yāt–mā–na–māt–ma–nā | 8 syllables sams-tabh-yaat-maa-na-maat-ma-naa
- ja–hi śat–ruṃ ma–hā–bā–ho 8 syllables ja-hi shat-rum ma-haa-baa-ho
- kā–ma–rū–paṃ du–rā–sa–dam || 3-43 8 syllables kaa-ma-roo-pam du-raa-sa-dam
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 43
Context
The concluding verse of Chapter 3, drawing together the teaching on desire (3.37–3.43).
Meaning
The method is complete: know the Self that is beyond the intellect, use that higher awareness to steady the mind, and slay desire. The enemy is durāsada, hard to approach or conquer, but not invincible. The battle Arjuna must fight outwardly reflects the inner battle every seeker must fight against desire.
Chapter 3 ends with a call to inner courage. Karma yoga is not only outward action without attachment; it is also the inner conquest of desire through the power of the Self. With this, the Gita moves from the practice of action to the knowledge that underlies it, which Chapter 4 will reveal.
In Practice
When a strong desire arises today, pause, remember the Self beyond the mind, and let that awareness steady you before you act.
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.