Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 40 Meaning
The senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these, it deludes the embodied one, veiling their wisdom.
BG 3.40
इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते। एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम्
indriyāṇi mano buddhir asyādhiṣhṭhānam uchyate etair vimohayatyeṣha jñānam āvṛitya dehinam
Meaning
The senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these, it deludes the embodied one, veiling their wisdom.
Available in 28 languages
What Does Bhagavad Gita 3.40 Mean?
The senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these, it deludes the embodied one, veiling their wisdom. This verse from Karma Yoga speaks directly to the theme of duty, offering insight that deepens our understanding of the Gita's teaching. What distinguishes this verse is its integration of duty with the broader framework of the Gita's philosophy. Rather than treating spiritual life as separate from worldly engagement, Krishna shows how selfless action can be realized through every aspect of human experience.
Applied to contemporary life, this teaching asks us to examine our relationship with selfless action. Not through self-judgment, but through honest observation that gradually shifts our center of gravity from reactive habit to conscious choice.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 3.40?
The path of selfless action, performing one's duty without attachment to results.
Key themes in this chapter include Action, Duty, Selflessness, Work.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 3.40 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with action
- •When practicing duty amid uncertainty
- •When applying selflessness to real-life choices
Verse FAQs
What is the main idea of Bhagavad Gita 3.40?
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.40 in daily life?
Related Verses
BG 3.5
Verily, no one can remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is made to act helplessly, indeed, by the qualities born of Nature.
BG 3.8
Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
Read in Other Languages
Build a daily reading habit with Nitya
Get the Free App