Bhagavad Gita 18.42 — Shamo Damas Tapah Shaucham — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 18.42 — शमो दमस्तपः शौचम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
शमः
śhamaḥ
tranquility, serenity of mind
दमः
damaḥ
restraint of the senses
तपः
tapaḥ
austerity
शौचम्
śhaucham
purity
क्षान्तिः
kṣhāntiḥ
patience, forgiveness
आर्जवम्
ārjavam
integrity, uprightness
एव च
eva cha
certainly and
ज्ञानम्
jñānam
knowledge
विज्ञानम्
vijñānam
wisdom, realization
आस्तिक्यम्
āstikyam
faith, belief in God and the hereafter
ब्रह्मकर्म
brahma-karma
the work/duty of a Brahmana
स्वभावजम्
svabhāva-jam
born of one’s own intrinsic nature
Complete Translation
Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, and uprightness, as well as knowledge, realization, and belief in God, are the duties of Brahmanas, born of their own nature.
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 42
Author: Bhagavan Sri Krishna (as recorded by Maharishi Veda Vyasa)
Period: Ancient (part of the Mahabharata, c. 5th–2nd century BCE in present form)
Chapter 18, the Yoga of Liberation through Renunciation, gathers and crowns the teachings of the entire Gita. Here Krishna explains how each person's duties arise from their own innate qualities (svabhava), and lists the sattvic virtues expressed through brahmana-natured work. The passage affirms that serenity, knowledge and faith are the noblest expressions of human nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 18.42 describe?▼
It describes the qualities that constitute the natural work (svabhava-ja karma) of a brahmana nature: serenity (shama), self-restraint (dama), austerity (tapas), purity, forgiveness, uprightness, knowledge, realization and faith in God (astikya).
What is the difference between shama and dama?▼
Shama is tranquility or control of the mind from within, while dama is restraint of the external senses. Together they form the disciplined inner and outer foundation of a spiritual character.
What is astikya?▼
Astikya is faith — belief in God, in the scriptures, and in the reality of the hereafter and the eternal Self. Krishna lists it among the natural virtues of a refined, sattvic nature.
Is this verse only about a social class?▼
While framed in terms of svabhava-ja (qualities born of one's nature), the virtues it lists are universally exalted. Spiritual teachers read it as a description of the ideal sattvic character that every seeker may cultivate.
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