As a true soldier, Arjuna understands that there is an inner enemy called “desire,” which, like an efficient saboteur, undermines the wealth and security of his inner kingdom; and as a true prince, the royal demand of Arjuna is for immediate information as to the exact hide-out of this dangerous bandit. Krishna, as the spiritual teacher, has to indicate to his adventurous student where exactly the den of this devil is, from where he plans his nefarious activities. Indicating the secret fortresses of this inner enemy “desire,” the Lord says, “the senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be itsseats of action.”
A true criminal, functioning as an efficient leader of a gang, operating in a large area, will generally have more places than one to function from. Three main offices, from where “desire,” in different forms, functions to destroy the peace and health of our inner life, have been indicated here very clearly.
The sense-organs, functioning without restraint in the world of sense-objects, are a very convenient theatre for “desire” to function in. When the external stimuli reach the mind through the sense-organs, the mind also becomes a breeding centre of sorrows created by “desire.” Lastly, the intellect, working and playing with the memories of the sense-enjoyments it had lived, and of the mental attachments it had entertained, becomes yet another safe den for “desire” to function from.
The deluded ego, foolishly identifying with the body, desires sense-enjoyments. Thoughtlessly identifying with the mind, it thirsts to experience more and more emotional satisfactions. And lastly, identifying with the intellect, it plans to re-live the remembered experiences of sense-enjoyments and mental-joys.
TO HUNT FOR “DESIRE” IN THESE THREE HIDE-OUTS IS TO COME, AT LAST, FACE TO FACE WITH IT. HOW FINALLY TO OVERCOME THIS INNER ENEMY IS DESCRIBED IN THE FOLLOWING STANZAS:
