Bhagavad Gita BG 13.8
Chapter 13, Verse 8 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अमानित्वमदम्भित्वं अहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम् । आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः ॥
amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa kshantir arjavam acaryo-pasanam shaucam sthairyam atma-vinigrahah
Meaning
Absence of pride, absence of hypocrisy, non-violence, patience, uprightness, service to the teacher (guru-seva), purity, steadfastness, self-control —
Understanding
The first nine of the twenty qualities of jnana (true knowledge). Amanitvam (no arrogance/pride in status). Adambhitvam (no hypocrisy/pretension). Ahimsa (non-violence, non-harm). Kshanti (patience, forbearance). Arjava (uprightness, straightforwardness). Acaryopasanam (service and reverence to the teacher — the first relational quality). Shaucam (purity — of body and mind). Sthairya (steadfastness, constancy). Atma-vinigrahah (self-mastery). Notably: THESE are called jnana — not philosophical knowledge but ethical-existential qualities. Wisdom is a way of BEING, not just knowing.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अमानित्वम् | amanitvam | absence of pride, no arrogance about status |
| अदम्भित्वम् | adambhitvam | absence of hypocrisy, no pretension |
| क्षान्तिः | kshantih | patience, forbearance |
| आर्जवम् | arjavam | uprightness, straightforwardness |
| आचार्योपासनम् | acaryopasanam | service and reverence to the teacher |
| अमानित्वम् | amānitvam | humility, absence of pride |
| अहिंसा | ahiṃsā | non-violence |
| क्षान्तिः | kṣāntiḥ | tolerance, forbearance |
| आर्जवम् | ārjavam | simplicity, straightforwardness |
| आचार्योपासनम् | ācāryopāsanam | service to the teacher |
| शौचम् | śaucam | cleanliness, purity |
| स्थैर्यम् | sthairyam | steadiness, stability |
| आत्म-विनिग्रहः | ātma-vinigrahaḥ | self-control |