In Bhagavad Gita 18.42, Krishna says serenity, self-control, austerity, purity, patience, uprightness, knowledge, realisation and faith are the natural duties of the brahmin nature.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
शमो दमस्तपः शौचं
क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च
ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यं
ब्रह्मकर्म स्वभावजम् ॥ १८-४२ ॥
śamo damastapaḥ śaucaṃ
kṣāntirārjavameva ca
jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyaṃ
brahmakarma svabhāvajam
English transliteration shamo damastapah shaucham
kshaantiraarjavameva cha
jnaanam vijnaanamaastikyam
brahmakarma svabhaavajam ॥ 18.42 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Serenity, self-control, austerity, purity, patience, uprightness, knowledge, realisation and faith in the sacred are the duties of a brahmin, born of his nature.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| शमः śamaḥ | serenity |
| दमः damaḥ | self-control |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| शौचम् śaucam | purity |
| क्षान्तिः kṣāntiḥ | patience |
| आर्जवम् ārjavam | uprightness |
| एव eva | also |
| च ca | and |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| विज्ञानम् vijñānam | realisation |
| आस्तिक्यम् āstikyam | faith in the sacred |
| ब्रह्मकर्म brahmakarma | the duty of a brahmin brahma (brahmin) + karma (duty) |
| स्वभावजम् svabhāvajam | born of his nature |
Word-wise Chanting
- śa–mo da–mas–ta–paḥ śau–caṃ 8 syllables sha-mo da-mas-ta-pah shau-cham
- kṣān–ti–rār–ja–va–me–va ca | 8 syllables kshaan-ti-raar-ja-va-me-va cha
- jñā–naṃ vi–jñā–na–mās–tik–yaṃ 8 syllables jnaa-nam vi-jnaa-na-maas-tik-yam
- brah–ma–kar–ma sva–bhā–va–jam || 18-42 8 syllables brah-ma-kar-ma sva-bhaa-va-jam
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 18 Verse 42
Context
Krishna describes the fourfold division of work according to nature (18.41–18.44).
Meaning
The brāhmaṇa nature shows śama, inner calm; dama, sense control; tapas, discipline; śauca, purity; kṣānti, forbearance; ārjava, honesty; jñāna, learning; vijñāna, realisation; and āstikya, faith in the sacred.
These qualities define a spiritual teacher or scholar by character, not by birth. Anyone who cultivates them lives the brahmin ideal.
In Practice
Cultivate one of these qualities today: calm, honesty, patience or faith.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.