In Bhagavad Gita 13.8, Krishna begins listing the qualities of knowledge: humility, unpretentiousness, nonviolence, patience, uprightness, service of the teacher, purity, steadfastness and self-control.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अमानित्वमदम्भित्वम्
अहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्
आचार्योपासनं शौचं
स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः ॥ १३-८ ॥
amānitvamadambhitvam
ahiṃsā kṣāntirārjavam
ācāryopāsanaṃ śaucaṃ
sthairyamātmavinigrahaḥ
English transliteration amaanitvamadambhitvam
ahimsaa kshaantiraarjavam
aachaaryopaasanam shaucham
sthairyamaatmavinigrahah ॥ 13.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Humility, freedom from pretension, nonviolence, patience, uprightness, service of the teacher, purity, steadfastness and self-control,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अमानित्वम् amānitvam | humility |
| अदम्भित्वम् adambhitvam | freedom from pretension |
| अहिंसा ahiṃsā | nonviolence |
| क्षान्तिः kṣāntiḥ | patience |
| आर्जवम् ārjavam | uprightness |
| आचार्योपासनम् ācāryopāsanam | service of the teacher ācārya (teacher) + upāsanam (service) |
| शौचम् śaucam | purity |
| स्थैर्यम् sthairyam | steadfastness |
| आत्मविनिग्रहः ātmavinigrahaḥ | self-control ātma (self) + vinigrahaḥ (control) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–mā–nit–va–ma–dam–bhit–vam– 8 syllables a-maa-nit-va-ma-dam-bhit-vam-
- a–hiṃ–sā kṣān–ti–rār–ja–vam | 8 syllables a-him-saa kshaan-ti-raar-ja-vam
- ā–cār–yo–pā–sa–naṃ śau–caṃ 8 syllables aa-chaar-yo-paa-sa-nam shau-cham
- sthair–ya–māt–ma–vi–nig–ra–haḥ || 13-8 8 syllables sthair-ya-maat-ma-vi-nig-ra-hah
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 13 Verse 8
Context
Krishna lists the qualities that constitute true knowledge (13.8–13.12).
Meaning
Krishna surprises us: knowledge is not defined as information but as character. Amānitva, not seeking honour; adambhitva, not pretending; ahiṃsā, not harming; kṣānti, patient forbearance; ārjava, straightforwardness; serving the teacher; śauca, purity; sthairya, steadiness; and self-mastery are all marks of knowledge.
True knowledge transforms how we live. Learning that does not make us humbler, kinder and more honest is not knowledge in the Gita’s sense.
In Practice
Choose humility today: let someone else take credit, or admit something you do not know.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (The Field and the Knower of the Field). 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.