Bhagavad-gītā 17.16

Explain simply

Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa

मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः ।
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥१६॥

manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ
maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ
bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat
tapo mānasam ucyate

Word for word (synonyms)

manaḥ-prasādaḥ
satisfaction of the mind
saumyatvam
without duplicity towards others
maunam
gravity
ātma
self
vinigrahaḥ
control
bhāva
nature
saṁśuddhiḥ
purification
iti
thus
etat
that is
tapaḥ
austerity
mānasam
of the mind
ucyate
is said to be

Translation

And serenity, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purity of thought are the austerities of the mind.

Defined in the Gītā

Austerity

What is austerity of body, speech and mind?

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.

Bhagavad-gītā 17.14

This verse is one of the Gītā’s own answers.

See the definition

Purport

Other scriptures cited in this purport: Mahābhārata

To make the mind austere is to detach it from sense gratification. It should be so trained that it can be always thinking of doing good for others. The best training for the mind is gravity in thought. One should not deviate from Kṛṣṇa consciousness and must always avoid sense gratification. To purify one's nature is to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Satisfaction of the mind can be obtained only by taking the mind away from thoughts of sense enjoyment. The more we think of sense enjoyment, the more the mind becomes dissatisfied. In the present age we unnecessarily engage the mind in so many different ways for sense gratification, and so there is no possibility of the mind's becoming satisfied. The best course is to divert the mind to the Vedic literature, which is full of satisfying stories, as in the Purāṇas and the Mahābhārata. One can take advantage of this knowledge and thus become purified. The mind should be devoid of duplicity, and one should think of the welfare of all. Silence means that one is always thinking of self-realization. The person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness observes perfect silence in this sense. Control of the mind means detaching the mind from sense enjoyment. One should be straightforward in his dealing and thereby purify his existence. All these qualities together constitute austerity in mental activities.

What this verse teaches

The study note for this verse is in editorial review.

Qualities in this verse

Austerity of the mind

  • serenity
  • simplicity
  • gravity
  • self-control
  • purity of thought
In thematic compilations 1

Self-control

  • Self-control is one of the austerities of mind (17.16 manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ,...)

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.