Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् ।
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥१४॥
deva-dvija-guru-prājña-
pūjanaṁ śaucam ārjavam
brahmacaryam ahiṁsā ca
śārīraṁ tapa ucyate
Word for word (synonyms)
- deva
- the Supreme Lord
- dvija
- the *brāhmaṇa*
- guru
- the spiritual master
- prājña
- worshipable personalities
- pūjanam
- worship
- śaucam
- cleanliness
- ārjavam
- simplicity
- brahma-caryam
- celibacy
- ahiṁsā
- nonviolence
- ca
- also
- śārīram
- pertaining to the body
- tapaḥ
- austerity
- ucyate
- is said to be
Translation
The austerity of the body consists in this: worship of the Supreme Lord, the brāhmaṇas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body.
Defined in the Gītā
Austerity
What is austerity of body, speech and mind?
Austerity of speech consists in speaking truthfully and beneficially and in avoiding speech that offends. One should also recite the Vedas regularly.
This verse is one of the Gītā’s own answers.
Brāhmaṇa
What are the qualities of a brāhmaṇa?
Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness—these are the qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work.
Purport
The Supreme Godhead here explains the different kinds of austerity and penance. First He explains the austerities and penances practiced by the body. One should offer, or learn to offer, respect to God or to the demigods, the perfect, qualified brāhmaṇas and the spiritual master and superiors like father, mother or any person who is conversant with Vedic knowledge. These should be given proper respect. One should practice cleansing oneself externally and internally, and he should learn to become simple in behavior. He should not do anything which is not sanctioned by the scriptural injunction. He should not indulge in sex outside of married life, for sex is sanctioned in the scripture only in marriage, not otherwise. This is called celibacy. These are penances and austerities as far as the body is concerned.
What this verse teaches
The study note for this verse is in editorial review.
- Section
- Three types of austerity
Qualities in this verse
- worship of the Supreme Lord, the brāhmaṇas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother
- Cleanliness
- simplicity
- celibacy
- nonviolence
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.