How does one transform from body consciousness to divine Consciousness? Yama uses a most beautiful metaphor of a chariot, to illustrate the answer to this question – wherein the chariot is the body, the horses are the senses, the reins are the mind, held together in the hands of the buddhi (intellect) who is the charioteer steering the chariot, in which sits the ātman as the passenger.
The same symbolism is used to explain the story of how Arjuna and Duryodhana both sought varying kinds of support from Bhagavan Krishna. While Duryodhana asked for Krishna’s horses and army (senses and the mind), Arjuna asked only for Krishna to be his charioteer (buddhi to take control completely of whatever horses are given to Him). Swami describes that this is how Duryodhana came to ruin, while Arjuna emerged victorious.
If you'd like to get the links and shownotes for this episode, visit:
https://www.saiprakashana.org/KU-EP26