In Bhagavad Gita 10.5, Krishna completes the list: nonviolence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame and infamy; these diverse states of beings arise from him alone.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्
तपो दानं यशोऽयशः
भवन्ति भावा भूतानां
मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः ॥ १०-५ ॥
ahiṃsā samatā tuṣṭis
tapo dānaṃ yaśo’yaśaḥ
bhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṃ
matta eva pṛthagvidhāḥ
English transliteration ahimsaa samataa tushtis
tapo daanam yasho’yashah
bhavanti bhaavaa bhootaanaam
matta eva prithagvidhaah ॥ 10.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
nonviolence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame and infamy: these diverse states of beings arise from Me alone.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अहिंसा ahiṃsā | nonviolence |
| समता samatā | equanimity |
| तुष्टिः tuṣṭiḥ | contentment |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| दानम् dānam | charity |
| यशः yaśaḥ | fame |
| अयशः ayaśaḥ | infamy |
| भवन्ति bhavanti | arise |
| भावाः bhāvāḥ | states |
| भूतानाम् bhūtānām | of beings |
| मत्तः mattaḥ | from Me |
| एव eva | alone |
| पृथग्विधाः pṛthagvidhāḥ | diverse |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–hiṃ–sā sa–ma–tā tuṣ–ṭis– 8 syllables a-him-saa sa-ma-taa tush-tis-
- ta–po dā–naṃ ya–śo–‘ya–śaḥ | 8 syllables ta-po daa-nam ya-sho-‘ya-shah
- bha–van–ti bhā–vā bhū–tā–nāṃ 8 syllables bha-van-ti bhaa-vaa bhoo-taa-naam
- mat–ta e–va pṛ–thag–vi–dhāḥ || 10-5 8 syllables mat-ta e-va pri-thag-vi-dhaah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 10 Verse 5
Context
The list begun in 10.4 is completed.
Meaning
Further qualities are named: ahiṃsā, not harming; samatā, even-mindedness; tuṣṭi, contentment; tapas, disciplined effort; dāna, generosity; and the outer conditions of yaśas and ayaśas, good and bad reputation. All these diverse states, pṛthag-vidha, come from the Divine alone.
The verse places virtues and worldly fortunes side by side. Both arise from the same source. This encourages us to cultivate the virtues while holding fame and disgrace with equanimity.
In Practice
Practise one of these qualities deliberately today: nonviolence in speech, contentment or generosity.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga (The Divine Manifestations). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.