Verse 17.14
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् | ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ||१४||
Transliteration (IAST)
deva-dvija-guru-prājña-pūjanaṁ śaucam ārjavam | brahmacaryam ahiṁsā ca śārīraṁ tapa ucyate ||14||
Word-by-Word Meanings
deva-gods
dvija-the twice-born/brahmins
guru-teachers
prājña-the wise
pūjanam-worship/reverence
śaucam-cleanliness/purity
ārjavam-straightforwardness
brahmacaryam-celibacy/continence
Translation
Worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise; purity, straightforwardness, celibacy, and non-violence - these are called austerity of the body.
Commentary
Krishna begins the threefold classification of austerity (tapas) by body, speech, and mind. Shankaracharya explains that bodily austerity involves proper conduct toward worthy beings and self-discipline. Ramanuja notes that pūjana here means not mere ritual worship but genuine reverence expressed through physical service and respectful behavior.
Themes
dharmayoga