देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् ।
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥
ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
देवता, ब्राह्मण, गुरुजन और जीवन्मुक्त महापुरुषका पूजन करना, शुद्धि रखना, सरलता, ब्रह्मचर्यका पालन करना और हिंसा न करना यह शरीरसम्बन्धी तप कहा जाता है ॥
English
Worship of the radiant beings, the wise, the teacher, and the enlightened; purity, simplicity, celibacy, and non-violence — these are called bodily austerity.
What this verse means
True bodily discipline includes honoring wise teachers, staying clean, living simply, practicing self-restraint, and avoiding harm.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is frozen between duty and grief. Krishna now explains that real discipline is not only inner resolve; it also shows up in bodily conduct — respect, cleanliness, simplicity, restraint, and non-harm.
Why this verse still matters
You scroll past a cruel comment, then feel the urge to add one more. The verse asks for a different kind of strength: keep your body, habits, and actions clean enough to deserve your own respect.
The takeaway
Spiritual discipline is not abstract. It begins with how you treat your body and other people.
Word-by-word translation
देव (radiant beings) / द्विज (twice-born) / गुरु (teacher) / प्राज्ञ (wise) / पूजनम् (worship) / शौचम् (purity) / आर्जवम् (simplicity) / ब्रह्मचर्यम् (celibacy) / अहिंसा (non-violence) / च (and) / शारीरम् (bodily) / तपः (austerity) / उच्यते (is called)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Kinds of Faith, which contains 28 verses.
Explore related themes: tapas (22 verses)