Verse 3.42

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 3.42:

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्य् आहुर् इन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः ।
मनसस् तु परा बुद्धिर् बुद्धेर् यः परतस् तु सः ॥ ४२ ॥

indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṃ manaḥ |
manasas tu parā buddhir buddher yaḥ paratas tu saḥ || 42 ||

indriyāṇi–the senses; parāṇi–are higher than dull matter; āhuḥ–they (the sages) say; indriyebhyaḥ–than the senses; param–higher; manaḥ–the mind; manasaḥ–than the mind; tu parā–indeed higher; buddhiḥ–intelligence;buddheḥ–than intelligence; yaḥ–who; parataḥ–still higher; tu–but; saḥ–he (the soul).

The senses are said to be superior to inert matter, and the mind is superior to the senses. The intelligence is superior to the mind, and he, the soul, is superior even to the intelligence.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

It is inappropriate to try to first control the mind and intelligence in the initial stages; to do so is impossible. Nevertheless, to explain the process, Śrī Bhagavān is speaking this verse beginning with indriyāṇi parāṇī. He is saying, “The senses are more powerful than a courageous warrior who has conquered the ten directions. Indeed, they are superior to him, for even he cannot control his senses. The mind is more powerful than the senses, and it is superior to them, for it remains active even during dreams when the senses are dissolved. Intelligence that is endowed with realization is still more powerful than the mind and superior to it, because resolute intelligence remains active even during deep sleep, when the mind is dissolved. Over and above this, the soul, or ātmā, is more powerful than the intelligence and superior to it, for it continues to exist even when the intelligence is dissolved. It is this glorious soul alone that can conquer lust. This jīvātmā, which is more powerful than everything else, can definitely control lust, once he has controlled the senses, mind and intelligence. You should not doubt this.”

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

In the Śrutis it is also said:

indriyebhyaḥ parā hy arthā arthebhyaś ca paraṃ manaḥ
manasas tu parā buddhir buddher ātmā mahan paraḥ

Kaṭha Upaniṣad (1.3.10)

Certainly, the senses are superior to the gross body, and the mind is higher than the senses. Higher than the mind is intelligence, and the great one, the soul, is the highest of all.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura quotes Kṛṣṇa as saying, “I am explaining to you in brief that your real identity is that of a soul, a jīva. You have accidentally become bound by inert matter, so now you identify yourself with the senses, mind and intelligence. This is delusion and it is created by ignorance. The senses are superior to and more subtle than inert matter. The mind is superior to and more subtle than the senses. The intelligence is superior to and more subtle than the mind, and the soul, or the self, is superior even to the intelligence.”