Bhagavad Gita 17.16मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥
manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ
bhāva-sanśhuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam uchyate
Sanskrit recitation
Food, effort, and giving · 17.7–17.22 · Teaching
Translation
Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, self-control, and purity of nature—this is called mental austerity.
Hindi translation
मनकी प्रसन्नता, सौम्य भाव, मननशीलता, मनका निग्रह और भावोंकी शुद्धि -- इस तरह यह मन-सम्बन्धी तप कहा जाता है।
Meaning
Just as a lake which is without a ripple on it surface is very tranil, so also the mind which is free from modifications, from wandering thoughts of sensual objects, is ite serene and calm.Saumyatvam Intent on the welfare of all beings the state of mind which may be inferred from its effects, such as brightness of the face, etc.Maunam Even silence of speech is necessarily preceded by the control of thought, and so the effect is here used to stand for the cause, viz., the control of thought this is the result of the control of thought so far as it concerns speech, silence of the mind, ability to remain calm even amidst disturbing factors from without. Mauna is the condition of the Muni (sage), i.e., practice of meditation with onepointedness of mind.Atmavinigrahah Selfcontrol A general control of the mind. Asamprajnata Samadhi wherein all the modifications of the mind are controlled. The mind cannot run after the senses and the senses cannot run after their objects. In Mauna there is control of thought so far as it concerns speech.Bhavasamsuddhih Purity of nature Honesty of purpose freedom from cunningness in dealing with other people the pure state of the mind wherein there is absence of lust, anger, greed, etc.
After Swami Sivananda
Food, effort, and giving· 17.7–17.22→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 17.7The food that is dear to each is threefold, as well as sacrifice, austerity, and…
- 17.8The foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, joy, and cheerfulness (good…
- 17.9The foods that are bitter, sour, salty, overly hot, pungent, dry, and burning are liked by…
- 17.10That which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, rejected, and impure is the food liked by…
- 17.11That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for reward, as enjoined by the…
- 17.12The sacrifice that is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for show, know that to be a…
- 17.13They declare that sacrifice to be Tamasic which is contrary to the ordinances of the…
- 17.14Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the teachers, and the wise; purity,…
- 17.15Speech that causes no excitement, is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial; the practice of…
17.16Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, self-control, and purity of nature—this is called…
- 17.17This threefold austerity, practiced by steadfast men, with the utmost faith, desiring no…
- 17.18The austerity that is practiced with the aim of gaining good reception, honor, and…
- 17.19That austerity which is practised out of a foolish notion, with self-torture, or for the…
- 17.20That gift which is given to one who does nothing in return, knowing it to be a duty to…
- 17.21And, that gift which is given with the intention of receiving something in return, or…
- 17.22The gift that is given in the wrong place and at the wrong time, to unworthy persons,…
Word-by-word→
- iti
- thus
- etat
- these
- maunam
- silence
- tapaḥ
- austerity
- uchyate
- are declared as
- mānasam
- of the mind
- saumyatvam
- gentleness
- ātma-vinigrahaḥ
- self-control
- manaḥ-prasādaḥ
- serenity of thought
- bhāva-sanśhuddhiḥ
- purity of purpose
Related verses
- 6.28The yogi, always engaging the mind thus (in the practice of yoga), is freed from sins and…
- 18.42Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, and uprightness, as well as…
- 16.14"I have slain that enemy, and I shall slay others too. I am the Lord; I enjoy, I am…
- 5.29He who knows Me as the enjoyer of sacrifices and austerities, the great Lord of all the…