In Bhagavad Gita 16.1, Krishna begins listing the divine qualities: fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of scripture, austerity and uprightness.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्
ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च
स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ॥ १६-१ ॥
abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhir
jñānayogavyavasthitiḥ
dānaṃ damaśca yajñaśca
svādhyāyastapa ārjavam
English transliteration abhayam sattvasamshuddhir
jnaanayogavyavasthitih
daanam damashcha yajnashcha
svaadhyaayastapa aarjavam ॥ 16.1 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scripture, austerity and uprightness,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अभयम् abhayam | fearlessness |
| सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः sattvasaṃśuddhiḥ | purity of heart sattva (heart, being) + saṃśuddhiḥ (purity) |
| ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः jñānayogavyavasthitiḥ | steadfastness in knowledge and yoga jñāna (knowledge) + yoga (yoga) + vyavasthitiḥ (steadfastness) |
| दानम् dānam | charity |
| दमः damaḥ | control of the senses |
| च ca | and |
| यज्ञः yajñaḥ | sacrifice |
| च ca | and |
| स्वाध्यायः svādhyāyaḥ | study of scripture |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| आर्जवम् ārjavam | uprightness |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–bha–yaṃ sat–tva–saṃ–śud–dhir– 8 syllables a-bha-yam sat-tva-sam-shud-dhir-
- jñā–na–yo–gav–ya–vas–thi–tiḥ | 8 syllables jnaa-na-yo-gav-ya-vas-thi-tih
- dā–naṃ da–maś–ca ya–jñaś–ca 8 syllables daa-nam da-mash-cha ya-jnash-cha
- svādh–yā–yas–ta–pa ār–ja–vam || 16-1 8 syllables svaadh-yaa-yas-ta-pa aar-ja-vam
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 16 Verse 1
Context
Chapter 16, the Yoga of the Division between the Divine and the Demonic Qualities, begins with the divine qualities (16.1–16.3).
Meaning
The first divine quality named is abhaya, fearlessness, born of trust in the Divine. Then come sattva-saṃśuddhi, purity of heart; steadiness in knowledge and practice; dāna, generosity; dama, sense control; yajña, offering; svādhyāya, study of sacred texts; tapas, discipline; and ārjava, straightforwardness.
These qualities form a portrait of a spiritually mature person. Fearlessness comes first because fear is at the root of many vices.
In Practice
Act with fearlessness in one situation today where you would normally hold back.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga (Divine and Undivine Qualities). 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.