Nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, inner calm, absence of slander, compassion for all beings, freedom from greed, gentleness, modesty, and absence of restlessness.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 16.2
Hindi · हिन्दी
अहिंसा, सत्यभाषण क्रोध न करना संसारकी कामनाका त्याग अन्तःकरणमें रागद्वेषजनित हलचलका न होना चुगली न करना प्राणियोंपर दया करना सांसारिक विषयोंमें न ललचाना अन्तःकरणकी कोमलता अकर्तव्य करनेमें लज्जा चपलताका अभाव ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
अहिंसाnonviolenceसत्यtruthअक्रोधःfreedom from angerत्यागःrenunciationशान्तिःcalmअपैशुनम्absence of slanderदयाcompassionभूतेषुtoward beingsअलोलुप्त्वम्freedom from greedमार्दवम्gentlenessह्रीःmodestyअचापलम्absence of restlessness
Read literallynonviolence · truth · freedom from anger · renunciation · calm · absence of slander · compassion · toward beings · freedom from greed · gentleness · modesty · absence of restlessness
Understanding the verse
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It trains the mind to replace impulse with restraint, and reaction with humane conduct.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
A divine life is built from nonviolence, honesty, calm, compassion, restraint, and modest conduct.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna continues listing the qualities that mark a noble nature. Arjuna is frozen between duty and fear, and this verse gives him the inner standards that make right action possible.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the angry message, repeat the gossip, or take the easy shortcut. This verse asks for a different reflex: soften, tell the truth, and stop the spiral.
The takeaway
“Virtue is not one grand gesture. It is a steady character that shows up in small reactions.”
A divine life is built from nonviolence, honesty, calm, compassion, restraint, and modest conduct.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 16.2?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga" (The Divine and Demoniac Natures).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 16.2?
Verse 2 sits in Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita — Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga, "The Divine and Demoniac Natures". The chapter has 24 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 16.2 matter today?
You are about to send the angry message, repeat the gossip, or take the easy shortcut. This verse asks for a different reflex: soften, tell the truth, and stop the spiral.
It trains the mind to replace impulse with restraint, and reaction with humane conduct.
What this verse means
A divine life is built from nonviolence, honesty, calm, compassion, restraint, and modest conduct.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna continues listing the qualities that mark a noble nature. Arjuna is frozen between duty and fear, and this verse gives him the inner standards that make right action possible.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the angry message, repeat the gossip, or take the easy shortcut. This verse asks for a different reflex: soften, tell the truth, and stop the spiral.
“Virtue is not one grand gesture. It is a steady character that shows up in small reactions.”