Bhagavad Gita BG 17.14
Chapter 17, Verse 14 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् । ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥
deva-dvija-guru-prajna- pujanam shaucam arjavam brahmacariyam ahimsa ca shariram tapa ucyate
Meaning
Worship of the gods, the twice-born (dvija), teachers (guru), and the wise (prajna); purity (shauca), uprightness (arjava), celibacy (brahmacarya), and non-violence (ahimsa) — these are called the austerity of the body.
Understanding
The austerity of the body (shariram tapas) has two dimensions. Social/relational: puja (worship, reverent service) toward four categories — the devas (divine principles), dvija (the twice-born — those who have undergone initiation and live by dharmic knowledge), guru (teachers), prajna (the wise). Physical/behavioral: shauca (purity — of body, food, environment), arjava (uprightness, straightforwardness — the body that does not deceive or cringe), brahmacarya (celibacy in the strict sense or in the broader sense of conservation and direction of vital energy), ahimsa (non-violence — at the physical level, not harming through body). The range is striking: bodily tapas is not just physical austerity but includes how you carry yourself in relation to wisdom, teachers, and living beings.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञ | deva-dvija-guru-prajna | the divine, the twice-born (initiated), teachers, and the wise |
| पूजनम् | pujanam | worship, reverence, honoring service |
| शौचम् | shaucam | purity (of body and environment) |
| आर्जवम् | arjavam | uprightness, straightforwardness, integrity of conduct |
| ब्रह्मचर्यम् | brahmacariyam | celibacy, conservation of vital energy, walking in Brahman |
| अहिंसा | ahimsa | non-violence, not causing harm through the body |
| देव | deva | the gods |
| द्विज | dvija | the twice-born |
| गुरु | guru | teachers |
| प्रज्ञा | prajñā | the wise |
| पूजनम् | pūjanam | worship, veneration |
| शौचम् | śaucam | purity, cleanliness |
| आर्जवम् | ārjavam | simplicity, straightforwardness |
| ब्रह्मचर्यम् | brahmacaryam | celibacy, continence |
| अहिंसा | ahiṃsā ca | and non-violence |
| शारीरम् | śārīram | of the body |
| तपः | tapaḥ | austerity |
| उच्यते | ucyate | is called |