Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 42

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च ।
ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यं ब्रह्मकर्म स्वभावजम् ॥

Transliteration

śamo damastapaḥ śaucaṃ kṣāntirārjavameva ca .
jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyaṃ brahmakarma svabhāvajam ॥

Meaning

Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forbearance and uprightness, knowledge, realisation and faith — these are the duties of the brahmana, born of his nature.

Word meanings

शमः – serenity, control of mind
दमः – restraint of the senses
तपः – austerity
शौचम् – purity
क्षान्तिः – forbearance, forgiveness
आर्जवम् – uprightness, straightforwardness
एव च – and also
ज्ञानम् – knowledge of scripture
विज्ञानम् – realisation, experiential knowledge
आस्तिक्यम् – faith in scripture and God
ब्रह्मकर्म – the duty of a brahmana
स्वभावजम् – born of nature

Anvaya (word order)

शमः दमः तपः शौचं क्षान्तिः आर्जवम् एव च ज्ञानं विज्ञानम् आस्तिक्यं (इति) स्वभावजं ब्रह्मकर्म ।

Explanation

Krishna describes the natural duties of the brahmana, and it is notable that these are less outward activities than inner qualities. The essence of brahmanhood is not a right or a privilege but a high standard of character. Nine qualities are listed, all marks of the predominance of sattva.

Shama — serenity and control of the mind; dama — mastery of the senses; tapas — discipline of body, speech and mind; shaucha — purity of body and mind; kshanti — the strength to bear and forgive the wrongs of others; arjava — straightforwardness, in which thought, word and deed are one and there is no crookedness. These six concern character and self-discipline.

The remaining three concern knowledge. Jnana — study and understanding of scripture; vijnana — the realisation of that knowledge in one's own life. Shankara explains vijnana as personal experience of the truths taught in scripture. And astikya — firm faith in scripture, teacher and God. A person endowed with these qualities naturally becomes the teacher, guide and moral beacon of society.

The list shows that, for the Gita, the brahmana is identified by his qualities. Elsewhere in the Mahabharata — as in Yudhishthira's dialogue with Nahusha — the same idea appears: one in whom truth, generosity, forgiveness, good conduct and austerity are seen is worthy of being called a brahmana. Ramanuja regards these as the natural activities of a sattva-dominated nature.

In today's terms, this list is an ideal for anyone who works in teaching, research, spiritual guidance or the field of knowledge. The true teacher or scholar is one who combines knowledge with serenity, self-control, purity, forgiveness and simplicity.

Context

The previous verse said that the duties of the four varnas are divided by the gunas of their nature. This verse gives the natural duties of the brahmana. The next verse (18.43) describes those of the kshatriya.

Life lesson

Knowledge is complete only when joined with serenity, self-control, forgiveness and simplicity. Knowing is not enough; living what you know is true realisation. For anyone in the field of knowledge, purity of character is the greatest qualification.

Key terms

Shama: Serenity and control of the mind
Dama: Control of the senses
Kshanti: Forbearance, forgiveness
Arjava: Straightforwardness, absence of guile
Vijnana: Experiential realisation
Astikya: Faith in scripture and God