Dealing with Lust - Texts from Bhagwad Gita

The texts from the Bhagwad Gita are curated to help deal with the feelings of lust. The Sanskrit texts and their corresponding translations are given below.

Take time to read and understand their core meaning and message, and I hope this helps in elevating the issues with lust.

Chapter 3 - Text 37

श्रीभगवानुवाच

काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः

महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम

The Blessed Lord said: It is lust only, Arjun, which is born of contact with the material modes of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-drowning, sinful energy of this world.

Chapter 3 - Text 41

तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ

पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम

O Arjun, best of the Bharatas, in the very beginning curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating the senses, and slay this destroyer of knowledge and self-realisation.

Chapter 3 - Text 43

एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना

जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम

Knowing oneself to be transcendental to material senses, mind and intelligence, one should control the lower self by the higher self and thus by spiritual strength, conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.

Chapter 5 - Text 22

ये हि संस्पर्शजा भोगा दुःखयोनय एव ते

आद्यन्तवन्तः कौन्तेय न तेषु रमते बुधः

An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kunti, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them.

Chapter 16 - Text 21

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः 

कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत

There are three gates leading to this hell – lust, anger, and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul.