Verse 17.16
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः | भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ||१६||
Transliteration (IAST)
manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ | bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam ucyate ||16||
Word-by-Word Meanings
manaḥ-prasādaḥ-serenity of mind
saumyatvam-gentleness
maunam-silence/contemplation
ātma-vinigrahaḥ-self-control
bhāva-saṁśuddhiḥ-purity of intention
tapaḥ-austerity
mānasam-of the mind
Translation
Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of intention - this is called austerity of the mind.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that mental austerity is the highest form because the mind is the root of all action. Maunam here means not mere absence of speech but contemplative stillness. Bhāva-saṁśuddhi (purity of intention) ensures that even good actions are not tainted by hidden selfish motives. Madhva notes that mental tapas is the foundation without which bodily and verbal austerities remain superficial.
Themes
yogajnana