Ramanuja's Gita Bhashyam - Chapter 3 - sloka 40

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Adidevananda's translation of Ramanuja's Gita Bhashyam, published by Ramakrishna Mission.

The origin of sin - 36-43

1 Gita Sloka every day - Chapter 3 -Karma Yoga - Sloka 40

Indriyani mano buddhir asya adhistanam uchyate I

Etaih vimohayati eshah gyanam avrutya dehinam II sloka 40

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिर् अस्य अधिस्तनं उच्यते ।

एतैः विमोहयति एषः ज्ञानं आवृत्य देहिनां ।। श्लोक ४० 

The senses, the mind and the intellect are said to be instruments of desire; by these it empowers the embodied self after veiling Its knowledge.

The senses, the mind and the intellect are the instruments of desire in so far as it empowers the self through them. By means of these ie, the senses mind and intellect, which have been rendered to the position of servants  through attachment to sense objects, desire deludes Prakriti by covering up its knowledge. The self is becomes a victim of these desires, turning away from its true nature and indulging in sensuous experiences.