The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
अनुद्वेगकरंnot causing agitationवाक्यंspeechसत्यंtrueप्रियहितंpleasant and beneficialचandयत्whichस्वाध्यायाभ्यसनंstudy and practiceचandएवindeedवाङ्मयंof speechतपःausterityउच्यतेis called
Read literallynot causing agitation · speech · true · pleasant and beneficial · and · which · study and practice · and · indeed · of speech · austerity · is called
Understanding the verse
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Tapas of speech means words that do not agitate, that are true, kind and useful, plus regular study.
Speech becomes a disciplined practice when it is calm, truthful, kind, helpful, and supported by study.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna teaches Arjuna how inner discipline takes shape in daily life. After describing bodily austerity, he turns to speech: words should not disturb, should be true, pleasant, and useful, and should be backed by regular study.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
During a quarrel with a neighbour over parking, a person can say something true that wounds, or something true that helps. Krishna asks for speech that is honest, pleasant, useful and calming.
The takeaway
“Your words can become a form of self-training, not just self-expression.”
Speech becomes a disciplined practice when it is calm, truthful, kind, helpful, and supported by study.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 17.15?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga" (The Three Kinds of Faith).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 17.15?
Verse 15 sits in Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, "The Three Kinds of Faith". The chapter has 28 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 17.15 matter today?
During a quarrel with a neighbour over parking, a person can say something true that wounds, or something true that helps. Krishna asks for speech that is honest, pleasant, useful and calming.
Tapas of speech means words that do not agitate, that are true, kind and useful, plus regular study.
What this verse means
Speech becomes a disciplined practice when it is calm, truthful, kind, helpful, and supported by study.
Context & commentary
Krishna teaches Arjuna how inner discipline takes shape in daily life. After describing bodily austerity, he turns to speech: words should not disturb, should be true, pleasant, and useful, and should be backed by regular study.
What it looks like today
During a quarrel with a neighbour over parking, a person can say something true that wounds, or something true that helps. Krishna asks for speech that is honest, pleasant, useful and calming.
“Your words can become a form of self-training, not just self-expression.”