Know thou the
soul (atman) as riding in a chariot,
The body is the
chariot,
Know thou the
intellect (buddhi)
as the chariot-driver,
And
the mind (manas) as the reins.
The senses, they
say, are the horses;
The
objects of sense, what they range over.
The self combined
with senses and mind
Wise men call
'the enjoyer'.
He who has not
understanding,
Whose mind is not
constantly held firm -
His senses are
uncontrolled,
Like the vicious
horses of a chariot-driver.
He, however, who
has understanding,
Whose mind is
constantly held firm -
His senses are
under control,
Like the good
horses of a chariot-driver.
He, however, who
has not understanding,
Who is unmindful
and ever impure,
Reaches not the
goal,
But
goes on to reincarnation.
He, however, who
has understanding,
Who is mindful
and ever pure, Reaches the goal
From which he is
born no more.
He, however, who
has the understanding of a chariot-driver,
A man who reins
in his mind -
He reaches the
end of his journey,
That
highest place of Vishnu.
Higher than the
senses are the objects of sense.
Higher than the
objects of sense is the mind (manas);
And higher than
the mind is the intellect (buddhi).
Higher than the
intellect is the Great Self (Atman).
Katha
Upanishad, 3.3-10