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Bhagavad Gita 13.8 — Amanitvam Adambhitvam Ahimsa

Bhagavad Gita 13.8 — Amanitvam Adambhitvam Ahimsa in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Morning self-reflection or during study of scripture (svadhyaya)·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 8

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

In the chapter distinguishing the field and its knower, Krishna begins a famous list of the virtues that together constitute true knowledge (jnana). This verse names humility, unpretentiousness, non-violence, forgiveness, uprightness, service to the teacher, purity, steadfastness and self-control as the very means and marks of wisdom.

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 8 · Bhagavan Sri Krishna (as recorded by Maharishi Veda Vyasa) · Ancient (part of the Mahabharata, c. 5th–2nd century BCE in present form)

In Chapter 13, Krishna draws the great distinction between the kshetra (the field, the body and nature) and the kshetrajna (the knower, the soul). Before describing the knowable Supreme, He defines knowledge itself not as theory but as a list of virtues, of which this verse is the opening. Vedantic teachers cherish this passage as a practical syllabus of spiritual character.

✦ As told in scripture

Sages teach that one who steadily cultivates the virtues of this verse finds knowledge dawning of its own accord; the humility and self-control it prescribes are said to purify the heart until the Self shines forth unobstructed.

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The Mantra

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amānitvam adambhitvam ahinsā kṣhāntir ārjavam āchāryopāsanaṁ śhauchaṁ sthairyam ātma-vinigrahaḥ

Meaning:Humility, unpretentiousness, non-injury, forgiveness, uprightness, service to the teacher, purity, steadfastness, and self-control.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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amānitvam🔊humbleness, absence of pride

adambhitvam🔊freedom from hypocrisy, unpretentiousness

ahinsā🔊non-violence, non-injury

kṣhāntiḥ🔊forgiveness, patience

ārjavam🔊simplicity, uprightness

āchārya-upāsanam🔊service of the Guru, reverence to the teacher

śhaucham🔊cleanliness of body and mind, purity

sthairyam🔊steadfastness, firmness

ātma-vinigrahaḥ🔊self-control

Benefits of Chanting Bhagavad Gita 13.8 — Amanitvam Adambhitvam Ahimsa

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Lists the foundational virtues that constitute true knowledge (jnana)

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Cultivates humility (amanitva) and freedom from hypocrisy (adambhitva)

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Establishes non-violence, forgiveness and uprightness in conduct

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Encourages reverence and service to the spiritual teacher (acharya)

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Develops purity, steadfastness and self-control

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A complete daily check-list for character and spiritual growth

How to Chant Bhagavad Gita 13.8 — Amanitvam Adambhitvam Ahimsa

Repetitions11times

Best TimeMorning self-reflection or during study of scripture (svadhyaya)

Recite the verse slowly and dwell on each virtue in turn — humility, sincerity, non-violence, forgiveness, uprightness, devotion to the teacher, purity, steadiness, self-control. Use it as a daily mirror to examine your conduct and gently strengthen whichever quality is weakest, for Krishna calls these very virtues 'knowledge'.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Bhagavad Gita 13.8 — Amanitvam Adambhitvam Ahimsa written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

In Bhagavad Gita 13.8 Krishna teaches that true knowledge (jnana) is not mere information but a transformed character. Humility, non-violence, purity, self-control and the other virtues are the means to wisdom and the natural expression of one who truly knows.

Amanitva is humility — the absence of self-importance and the craving to be honoured. Krishna places it first because pride is the greatest obstacle to wisdom, and humility is the soil in which knowledge grows.

It begins here in verse 13.8 and continues through several verses (to 13.12), enumerating around twenty qualities such as detachment, evenness of mind and unswerving devotion. This verse opens that celebrated catalogue of wisdom.

Treat the nine qualities named here as a daily discipline. Choose one to cultivate consciously each week — for example forgiveness (kshanti) or self-control (atma-vinigraha) — and let the whole verse guide the steady refinement of character.

Bhagavad Gita 13.2 — Idam Shariram Kaunteya (Kshetra-Kshetrajna)श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १३.२ — इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय Bhagavad Gita 13.28 — Samam Sarveshu Bhuteshuश्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १३.२८ — समं सर्वेषु भूतेषु Dehino'smin Yatha Dehe (Bhagavad Gita 2.13)देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे Bhagavad Gita 16.3 — Tejah Kshama Dhritih Shauchamश्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 16.3 — तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचम्Bhagavad Gita 18.42 — Shamo Damas Tapah Shauchamश्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 18.42 — शमो दमस्तपः शौचम्Bhagavad Gita 16.21 — Tri-vidham Narakasyedam Dvaramश्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 16.21 — त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारम्Bhagavad Gita 2.56 — Duhkheshv-anudvigna-manahश्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 2.56 — दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः

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