SB 10.14.3: Tanu-Van-Manobhih

(written on November 11, 2019)

Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport of SB 10.14.3 that Srila Sanatana Goswami explained the words tanu-vāṅ-manobhiḥ (body, mind and words) in three different ways:

In reference to the non-devotees: Srila Prabhupada says in the purport of SB 10.14.3 that “in the case of non devotees, the words tanu-vāṅ-manobhiḥ refer to the word ajita, or unconquered.” Because the non-devotees are not in the service of Krishna, they are unable to conquer the Absolute Truth with their body, words, and mind. This is because the non devotees are always speculting. Due to the fundamental defects of living entities which are explained by Srila Prabhupada in the introduction to the Isopanisad, “The first defect is that he must commit mistakes. Another defect: to be illusioned. The third defect is the cheating propensity. Lastly, our senses are imperfect.” It is said in Isopanishad that “With all these deficiencies, in conditioned life we cannot give perfect knowledge to anyone. Nor are we ourselves perfect. Therefore we accept the Vedas as they are.” However the non-devotees follow the process of speculative knowledge and they always end up in an imperfect, impersonal understanding of God. No amount of body strength, mind power, and verbal expertise will be able to conquer Lord Krishna.

In reference to the devotees: The devotees, on the other hand are able to conquer the Supreme Personality of Godhead because they are constantly performing unalloyed devotional service to the Lord with their body, words, and mind. They do NOT even slightly endeavor to understand the absolute truth through speculative process. They accept the knowledge coming through the disciplic succession and they hear the knowledge about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His activities everyday with rapt attention and repeat it everyday. They respect these narrations (Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam) by constantly hearing, preaching to others, and dedicating their lives. They are always discussing about the pastimes of the Lord and offering obeisances to the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam and those who embody them. Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport of SB 10.14.3, “Thus becoming perfect in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they can touch His lotus feet with their hands, call Him to come with their words, and attain His direct audience within their mind simply by thinking about Him… In this way, a sincere devotee who has acquired even a small amount of transcendental knowledge about Lord Kṛṣṇa can conquer Him and thus go back home, back to Godhead, for eternal life at the Lord’s side.”

In reference to Krishna: Finally, the last explanation of the words tanu-vāṅ-manobhiḥ is in reference to Lord Krishna’s body, words, and mind. Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport of SB 10.14.3 that, “In reference to the word jitaḥ, “conquered,” the words tanu-vāṅ-manobhiḥ indicate that the pure devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa conquer His body, words and mind. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s body is conquered because He always remains by the side of His pure devotees; Lord Kṛṣṇa’s words are conquered because He always chants the glories of His devotees; and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mind is conquered because He always thinks about His loving devotees.” An example would be the relationship between Krishna and his devotee and childhood friend Sudhama. In this story, Krishna’s body, mind, and words were conquered by Sudhama. Krishna washed Sudhama’s feet, sat and spoke with him, and showed his thought and concern for Sudhama by building a beautiful palace for him to live in by the time he went back home. Only by such pure devotees like Sudhama can the Lord’s mind, body, and words be conquered. Another example would be Krishna’s relationship with Arjuna. Krishna’s body, mind, and words were conquered by Arjuna because he was always standing by Arjuna, thinking about him and glorifying him.