Bhagavad Gita 18.42 शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च

Bhagavad Gita 18.42 — word by word

Explanation

Calm of mind, control of the senses, austerity, purity, forbearance and straightforwardness, along with knowledge, realised wisdom and faith in the sacred — these, Krishna says, are the natural work of a brahmin. They are not imposed from outside but flow from a nature in which sattva predominates.

The list is striking because it names inner qualities, not rituals or privileges. Shankara glosses jñāna as knowledge of the scriptures and vijñāna as its direct experience, and āstikya as conviction in the truth of the Vedas. Ramanuja reads vijñāna as discerning knowledge of the highest reality. Many modern commentators, Gandhi among them, point out that by this standard brahminhood is measured by self-discipline, honesty and learning, so the verse works as a challenge as much as a description.

भावार्थ

मन का शान्त रहना, इन्द्रियों पर संयम, तप, बाहर-भीतर की पवित्रता, क्षमा, सरलता, शास्त्रों का ज्ञान, अनुभवयुक्त विज्ञान और ईश्वर तथा शास्त्र में आस्था — ये सब ब्राह्मण के स्वभाव से उत्पन्न होने वाले स्वाभाविक कर्म हैं।

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