Bhagavad Gita BG 16.1
Chapter 16, Verse 1 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर् ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः । दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ॥
abhayam sattva-samshuddhir jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih danam damash ca yajnash ca svadhyayas tapa arjavam
Meaning
Fearlessness, purity of the sattva, steadfastness in jnana-yoga, charity, self-restraint, sacrifice, study of scripture, austerity, uprightness —
Understanding
The opening of the daivi sampat (divine qualities) list. Abhayam (fearlessness — listed first, the foundation). Sattva-samshuddhi (purification of sattva — inner clarity). Jnana-yoga-vyavasthiti (steadfastness in jnana yoga). Danam (charity/giving). Damah (self-restraint). Yajna (sacrifice/worship). Svadhyaya (self-study, study of scripture). Tapah (austerity). Arjava (uprightness, directness). Fearlessness is first because the root of all unethical behavior is fear — fear of loss, fear of others' judgment, fear of death.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अभयम् | abhayam | fearlessness, absence of fear |
| सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः | sattva-samshuddhih | purification of sattva, purity of being |
| ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः | jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih | steadfastness in the yoga of knowledge |
| दमः | damah | self-restraint, control of the senses |
| स्वाध्यायः | svadhyayah | self-study, study of sacred texts |
| आर्जवम् | arjavam | uprightness, straightforwardness |
| सत्त्व-संशुद्धिः | sattva-saṃśuddhiḥ | purity of being |
| ज्ञान-योग-व्यवस्थितिः | jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ | steadfastness in knowledge and yoga |
| दानम् | dānam | charity, giving |
| दमः | damaś ca | and self-control |
| यज्ञः | yajñaś ca | and sacrifice |
| स्वाध्यायः | svādhyāyaḥ | study of scriptures |
| तपः | tapaḥ | austerity |
| आर्जवम् | ārjavam | simplicity, straightforwardness |