Understanding Control Over Senses and Lust in the Bhagavad Gita

The verse you are referring to is from the Bhagavad Gita, specifically Chapter 3, Verse 41. This verse highlights the necessity of controlling the senses in order to overcome lust, which is termed as the source of sin that clouds knowledge and discrimination.

The relevant verses are:

1. Chapter 3, Verse 40:

   The senses, mind, and intellect are the breeding grounds of desire. Through them, it clouds one’s knowledge and deludes the embodied soul.

2. Chapter 3, Verse 41:

   Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, in the very beginning, bring the senses under control and slay this enemy called desire, which is the embodiment of sin and destroys knowledge and realization.

In these verses, Shree Krishna instructs Arjun to recognize that the senses, mind, and intellect can lead to desires and subsequently to miseries. He emphasizes the importance of controlling these faculties right at the beginning. Here's a deeper explanation:

1. The senses can draw one towards sense pleasures, which can lead to desires and distractions, ultimately causing pain and confusion in one's life.

2. By learning to control the senses, one can attain mental peace and wisdom. Without control over the senses, one’s intellect can become clouded, making it difficult to discern right from wrong.

3. Shree Krishna characterizes desire as a formidable enemy that must be slayed for attaining true knowledge and realization, indicating its power to destroy clarity and insight.

4. Krishna emphasizes the progressive nature of this control; it requires consistent practice and effort.

Thus, these verses advocate for disciplined living, where one recognizes the fleeting nature of sensual pleasures while focusing on spiritual growth and self-realization. You might find further guidance in Chapter 6, Verse 6, which also mentions that one should consider oneself superior to the mind to control it effectively.