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Bhagavad Gita 18.42 — Shamo Damas Tapah Shaucham

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 18.42 — शमो दमस्तपः शौचम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Morning self-reflection and during study or worship·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 42
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

In the final chapter, Krishna describes the natural duties that arise from one's own qualities. This verse lists the qualities expressed through brahmana-natured work: serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, uprightness, knowledge, realization and faith in God. It celebrates the inner, sattvic virtues that flow from a refined nature.

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 42 · Bhagavan Sri Krishna (as recorded by Maharishi Veda Vyasa) · 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.

✦ As told in scripture

Sages teach that the serene, self-controlled and faith-filled qualities of this verse mark the soul ripening toward liberation; cultivating them, they say, naturally draws the seeker to the supreme knowledge and surrender taught at the close of the Gita.

The Mantra

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śhamo damas tapaḥ śhauchaṁ kṣhāntir ārjavam eva cha jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahma-karma svabhāva-jam

Meaning: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.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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śhamaḥ🔊tranquility, serenity of mind
damaḥ🔊restraint of the senses
tapaḥ🔊austerity
śhaucham🔊purity
kṣhāntiḥ🔊patience, forgiveness
ārjavam🔊integrity, uprightness
eva cha🔊certainly and
jñānam🔊knowledge
vijñānam🔊wisdom, realization
āstikyam🔊faith, belief in God and the hereafter
brahma-karma🔊the work/duty of a Brahmana
svabhāva-jam🔊born of one’s own intrinsic nature

Benefits of Chanting श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 18.42 — शमो दमस्तपः शौचम्

✦

Names the highest sattvic virtues — serenity, restraint, austerity and purity

✦

Cultivates forgiveness, uprightness, knowledge and faith (astikya)

✦

Describes the inner qualities of a spiritually inclined nature

✦

Encourages tranquility of mind (shama) and sense-control (dama)

✦

Unites moral character with knowledge and realization (jnana-vijnana)

✦

A daily aspiration for refining one's svabhava (intrinsic nature)

How to Chant श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 18.42 — शमो दमस्तपः शौचम्

Repetitions11times
Best TimeMorning self-reflection and during study or worship

Recite the verse and reflect on each quality — calmness, self-restraint, austerity, purity, patience, integrity, knowledge, realization, faith. These flow from a refined, sattvic nature (svabhava). Resolve to nurture them in your own conduct, letting the chant orient your character toward serenity, wisdom and devotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 18.42 — शमो दमस्तपः शौचम् 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.
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).
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.
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.
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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