When Arjuna asks, “What makes us act self-destructively?” (Bhagavad-gita 03.36), Krishna doesn’t just identify the inner self-destructive force: lust (03.37). Sensing Arjuna’s unspoken concern in asking that question, he compassionately explains how lust deludes us (03.38-40) and how we can counter it (03.41-43).

Significantly, Krishna doesn’t reduce lust to desire alone; he expands it to also include a covering that obscures knowledge and misdirects desire (03.39). How does this covering delude us? By making us believe that temporary sensations coming from temporarily attractive objects will provide us immense pleasure. 

To overcome such delusion, Krishna recommends a two-pronged strategy:

Outer regulation (03.41): By keeping ourselves at a safe distance from sense objects, we can avoid two terrible troubles: indulging in them impulsively or indiscriminately, and being tempted and tormented by them unnecessarily or uncontrollably. 

Inner redirection (03.43): We need to intelligently situate ourselves in our spiritual identity and therein relish non-material fulfillment. To relish such joy, we need to ultimately direct our love toward the all-attractive Divinity, Krishna. 

Why doesn’t Krishna explicitly urge us to love him here? Because in the Gita’s flow, he hasn’t yet explained how he is the perfect object of love.

Nonetheless, he drops a pregnant pointer in this chapter’s last verse (03.43) by using the word buddhi (intelligence). When he later describes those who love him in the first (10.08) of the Gita’s four nutshell verses (Chatur-Shloki Gita), he uses the word buddha (enlightened), which is the final fruit of the full use of intelligence. These word usages point to the key truth: the intelligence that redirects lust spiritually culminates in the enlightenment that relishes love for the supreme spiritual reality. 

One-sentence summary: 

We can transform material lust into spiritual love by the two-pronged strategy of outer regulation and inner redirection.

Think it over:

  • How does Krishna expand our understanding of lust? 
  • How can we deal with lust?
  • In the Gita’s third chapter, how does Krishna offer a pointer to the ultimate cure for lust?

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03.43: Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Krishna consciousness] and thus – by spiritual strength – conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.

To know more about this verse, please click on the image