Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-17. Slokam-16.

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Srimad Bhagavad-Gita
Chapter-17. { Sraddha-traya-vibhaga-yogam }
Slokam-16. 

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Slokam 16 :

manahprasadah  saumyatvam  maunamatmavinigrahah,

bhavasamsuddhirityetat  tapo  manasamucyate.

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Translation of the Slokam ;

" And 1. serenity, 2. simplicity,3.  gravity, 4. self-control and  5. purity of thought are the austerities of the mind."

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Translation :

manah-prasadah  =  cleanliness / purity  of  the  mind  ( satisfaction of the mind ); 

saumyatvam   =  state  of  calmness / friendly nature  ( without duplicity towards others);

maunam  =  state of concentration,  by the rsult  of  thought  of  Self ( Jivatma );

atmavinigrahah  =  control  of  indriyas, mind, and bhuddhi;

bhava-samsuddhi  =  purity of state  of  thoughts /guna;

iti  etat  =  these  things;

manasam  tapah   ucyate  =  are  said  to  be  the  austerity  of  the  mind.

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Commentary :

The word saumyatvam means tranquility, gentleness. Maunya means the silence of reflecting internally as opposed to projecting externally. 

After achieving eligibility and qualification by spiritual knowledge from ever reflecting one is called a muni which is derived from the word maunya. 

The Balava scripture states: By the power of a muni's meditation reality is reflected and his realizations are reflected upon reality. 

Otherwise it would not be possible for a person to perform penance within the mind.

The austerities of the mind are manah-prasadah or self satisfaction and serenity free from mental imbalances. 

The word saumyatvam means serenity and benevolence to others. 

Maunam is silence externally and reflecting internally. 

Atma-vinigrahah is self-controlling the mind to stay focused on realisation of the atma. 

Bhava-samsuddhih is purity within and purity of purpose. 

These austerities of mind are confirmed by Lord Krishna to be in sattva guna the mode of goodness.

Lord Krishna states that tapah or austerities of the mind in sattva guna or mode of goodness are serenity derived from self-satisfaction, tranquillity derived from the self-control of with drawing the mind from the senses, silence derived by constant meditation within, purity of heart derived from the absence of any deceitfulness in thoughts, words and conduct are all known as austerities of the mind in sattva guna.

Now the austerities of the mind are given by Lord Krishna beginning with manah-prasada or tranquillity due to self satisfaction. 

Mental purity due to the absence of lust, anger and greed. 

Silence is avoidance of useless mundane conversations. 

Self-control is directing the mind away from unrighteous activities and focusing it on spiritual activities. 

Purity of heart is freedom from hankerings and desires for sense gratification. 

All these constitute austerities of speech in sattva guna the mode of goodness.

By only performing authorized Vedic yagnas or acts of propitiation and worship to the Supreme Lord residence is gained in the temporary heavenly worlds. 

These worlds are incomparably beautiful and grant unlimited pleasure without the hindrances of old age and decrepitude or any sickness and disease. 

The heavenly kingdoms are inhabited by jivas or embodied beings who had desires for pleasure and opulence but still lived a pious life in their previous birth. 

They are similar to the demigods whose limitations exceded their capabilities and failed in their attempts to be pure devotees of Lord Krishna due to cravings for pleasure and sense enjoyment. 

Thus they gain the heavenly worlds and due to pious activities in the previous life and are exempt from suffering in the dark, hellish planets. 

But the jivas who enact rituals and ceremonies not authorized by the Vedic scriptures and who perform prohibited and sinful activities will descend to suffer in the dark, hellish planet without a doubt. 

They are those who were born in tama guna the mode of ignorance and performed degraded activities from the very beginning or may have started their lives situated in sattva guna or the mode of goodness but later due to bad association unfortunately degraded into raja guna the mode of passion and tama guna and performed depraved activities. 

Others perform activities not in harmony with their natures and after some time they fall back into their old habits. 

Performance of activities in harmony with one's natural attributes and nature gives the best results. 

Performing activities not in accordance with one's natural attributes and contrary to one's nature gives inferior results. 

That which gives the best results should be understood as being the natural attributes of a jiva and this will reflect in the inherent attributes one possesses.

To make the mind austere is to detach it from sense gratification. 

It should be so trained that it can be always thinking of doing good for others. 

The best training for the mind is gravity in thought. 

One should not deviate from  consciousness and must always avoid sense gratification. 

To purify one's nature is to become  conscious. 

Satisfaction of the mind can be obtained only by taking the mind away from thoughts of sense enjoyment. 

The more we think of sense enjoyment, the more the mind becomes dissatisfied. 

In the present age we unnecessarily engage the mind in so many different ways for sense gratification, and so there is no possibility of the mind's becoming satisfied. 

The best course is to divert the mind to the Vedic literature, and scriptures. 

One can take advantage of this knowledge and thus become purified. 

The mind should be devoid of duplicity, and one should think of the welfare of all. 

Silence means that one is always thinking of self-realization.  

Control of the mind means detaching the mind from sense enjoyment. 

One should be straightforward in his dealing and thereby purify his existence. 

All these qualities together constitute austerity in mental activities.

To be continued  ...

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