Word meanings
- indriyāṇi
- senses
- parāṇi
- superior
- āhuḥ
- are said
- indriyebhyaḥ
- than the senses
- param
- superior
- manaḥ
- the mind
- manasaḥ
- than the mind
- tu
- but
- parā
- superior
- buddhiḥ
- intellect
- yaḥ
- who
- buddheḥ
- than the intellect
- parataḥ
- more superior
- tu
- but
- saḥ
- that (soul)
Translations
They say that the senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is superior to the mind; and He (the Self) is superior even to the intellect.
It is said that the senses are powerful; however, beyond the senses is the mind, beyond the mind is the intellect, and greater than the intellect is He.
They say that the organs are superior to the gross body; the mind is superior to the organs; and the intellect is superior to the mind. However, He is superior to the intellect.
।।3.42 -- 3.43।। इन्द्रियोंको (स्थूलशरीरसे) पर (श्रेष्ठ, सबल, प्रकाशक, व्यापक तथा सूक्ष्म) कहते हैं। इन्द्रियोंसे पर मन है, मनसे भी पर बुद्धि है औऱ जो बुद्धिसे भी पर है, वह (काम) है। इस तरह बुद्धिसे पर - (काम-) को जानकर अपने द्वारा अपने-आपको वशमें करके हे महाबाहो ! तू इस कामरूप दुर्जय शत्रुको मार डाल।Commentary
When compared with the physical body which is gross, external and limited, the senses are certainly superior as they are more subtle, internal and have a wider range of activity. The mind is superior to the senses, as the senses cannot do anything independently without the help of the mind. The mind can perform the functions of the five senses. The intellect is superior to the mind because it is endowed with the faculty of discrimination. When the mind is in a state of doubt, the intellect comes to its resuce.
The Self, the Witness, is superior even to the intellect, as the intellect borrows its light from the Self.