Chapter III · Śloka 41
तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ ।
पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् ॥
पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् ॥
tasmāt tvam indriyāṇy ādau niyamya bharatarṣabha |
pāpmānaṃ prajahi hy enaṃ jñāna-vijñāna-nāśanam ||
pāpmānaṃ prajahi hy enaṃ jñāna-vijñāna-nāśanam ||
Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, first controlling the senses, slay this sinful thing which destroys both theoretical and realised knowledge.
The remedy begins at the outermost level: sense-discipline (indriya-nigraha) cuts off desire at its point of entry before it can penetrate to the mind and intellect. Both scriptural knowledge (jñāna) and direct experiential wisdom (vijñāna) must be protected by this vigilant gate-keeping.