In Bhagavad Gita 17.14, Krishna says worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers and the wise, purity, straightforwardness, celibacy and nonviolence are called austerity of the body.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञप्
ऊजनं शौचमार्जवम्
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च
शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥ १७-१४ ॥
devadvijaguruprājñap
ūjanaṃ śaucamārjavam
brahmacaryamahiṃsā ca
śārīraṃ tapa ucyate
English transliteration devadvijagurupraajnap
oojanam shauchamaarjavam
brahmacharyamahimsaa cha
shaareeram tapa uchyate ॥ 17.14 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Worship of the gods, of the twice-born, of teachers and of the wise; purity, straightforwardness, chastity and nonviolence: these are called austerity of the body.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनम् devadvijaguruprājñapūjanam | worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers and the wise deva (gods) + dvija (twice-born) + guru (teachers) + prājña (wise) + pūjanam (worship) |
| शौचम् śaucam | purity |
| आर्जवम् ārjavam | straightforwardness |
| ब्रह्मचर्यम् brahmacaryam | chastity |
| अहिंसा ahiṃsā | nonviolence |
| च ca | and |
| शारीरम् śārīram | of the body |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| उच्यते ucyate | is called |
Word-wise Chanting
- de–vad–vi–ja–gu–rup–rā–jñap– 8 syllables de-vad-vi-ja-gu-rup-raa-jnap-
- ū–ja–naṃ śau–ca–mār–ja–vam | 8 syllables oo-ja-nam shau-cha-maar-ja-vam
- brah–ma–car–ya–ma–hiṃ–sā ca 8 syllables brah-ma-char-ya-ma-him-saa cha
- śā–rī–raṃ ta–pa uc–ya–te || 17-14 8 syllables shaa-ree-ram ta-pa uch-ya-te
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 17 Verse 14
Context
Krishna describes the three kinds of austerity: of body, speech and mind (17.14–17.16).
Meaning
Tapas of the body is not self-torture but disciplined, reverent conduct: honouring the divine, the learned, teachers and the wise; keeping the body clean; acting straightforwardly; practising brahmacarya, self-restraint in sexual life; and ahiṃsā, not harming.
After condemning harsh austerity in 17.5–17.6, Krishna now gives a gentle, positive definition: reverence, purity, honesty, restraint and nonviolence.
In Practice
Practise one physical austerity today: an act of reverence, cleanliness or restraint.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). 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.