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Bhagavad-gītā 17.16

मन:प्रसाद: सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रह: । भावसंश‍ुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥ १६ ॥
manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ
[manah-prasaadah saumyatvam]
maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ
[maunam aatma-vinigrahah]
bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat
[bhaava-samshuddhir ity etat]
tapo mānasam ucyate
[tapo maanasam uchyate]
Word-for-word
manaḥ - prasādaḥ — satisfaction of the mind saumyatvam — being without duplicity towards others maunam — gravity ātma — of the self vinigrahaḥ — control bhāva — of one’s nature saṁśuddhiḥ — purification iti — thus etat — this tapaḥ — austerity mānasam — of the mind ucyate — is said to be .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ
manaḥ - prasādaḥ
satisfaction of the mind
saumyatvam
being without duplicity towards others
maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ
maunam
gravity
ātma
of the self
vinigrahaḥ
control
bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat
bhāva
of one’s nature
saṁśuddhiḥ
purification
iti
thus
etat
this
tapo mānasam ucyate
tapaḥ
austerity
mānasam
of the mind
ucyate
is said to be .
Important Words
  • manaḥ - prasādaḥ — satisfaction of the mind
    Compound: manas (mind) + prasāda (clarity, settled satisfaction, grace). The same word used for the Lord's mercy. The mind's prasāda is not enforced calm but the natural settling of muddy water when not stirred.
  • saumyatvam — being without duplicity, gentleness
    From soma — the moon, by extension cool, gentle. The mind that has the moon's quality: lit but not burning. Not the harshness of severe willpower but the gentleness of a settled inner climate.
  • maunam — gravity, silence
    From muni — the silent sage. Maunam is not merely closing the mouth; it is the inner silence from which any speech, when it comes, comes weighted. The Gītā places it inside mānasa-tapas, not vāk-tapas — significant: the silence is mental first.
  • vinigrahaḥ — control
    From vi + ni + √grah — firm grip, total restraint. The fourth element of mental austerity, paired in the verse with ātma. Note the metaphor: the self/mind is grasped, like reins. Without this vinigraha the other three elements scatter — the mind cannot be its own master without first being seized.
  • saṁśuddhiḥ — purification
    From sam + √śudh — thorough, all-around purification. The deepest of the five, paired with bhāva. Not control of thoughts but rectification of the underlying bhāva that produces them. Cure the spring, not the river. Saṁśuddhi is the chapter's most ambitious mental-tapas goal.
And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one’s existence are the austerities of the mind.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Mind-tapas is the deepest of the three: keep the mind clear, the temper gentle, the tongue and thought-stream silent, the self under restraint, and motives purified. Without this interior discipline, body and speech tapas collapse into outer performance.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
The triad of bodily, vocal, and mental tapas (14-16) is concluded here at the subtlest level. Bhāva-saṁśuddhi — purification of the inner emotional-volitional state — is what really pulls ritual into the mode of goodness. Maunam here is not the absence of speech but the muni-state of a settled inner self (cf. 2.69, 12.19). Cross-ref Yoga-sūtra 1.20's śraddhā-vīrya-smṛti-samādhi as parallel interior cultivation.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
मनः-प्रसादः, सौम्यत्वम्, मौनम्, आत्म-विनिग्रहः, भाव-संशुद्धिः च — इति एतत् मानसं तपः उच्यते ।
manaḥ-prasādaḥ, saumyatvam, maunam, ātma-vinigrahaḥ, bhāva-saṃśuddhiḥ ca — iti etat mānasaṃ tapaḥ ucyate |
Tranquillity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of inner disposition — this is said to be austerity of the mind.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
मनः-प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनम् आत्म-विनिग्रहः । भाव-संशुद्धिः इति एतत् तपः मानसम् उच्यते ॥
manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṃ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ | bhāva-saṃśuddhiḥ iti etat tapaḥ mānasam ucyate ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
मनः-प्रसादः manaḥ-prasādaḥ मनस् (n.) + प्रसाद (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) tranquillity, clarity of mind
सौम्यत्वम् saumyatvam सौम्य (adj.) + -त्व (n. abstract suffix) nom.sg. (nominative singular) gentleness, mild-disposition
मौनम् maunam मौन (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) silence, the state of a muni
आत्म-विनिग्रहः ātma-vinigrahaḥ आत्मन् (m.) + विनिग्रह (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) restraint of the self/mind
भाव-संशुद्धिः bhāva-saṃśuddhiḥ भाव (m.) + संशुद्धि (f.) nom.sg. (nominative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) purification of motive/disposition
इति iti ind. (indeclinable), quotative thus
एतत् etat एतद् (dem. (demonstrative) pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. this
तपः tapaḥ तपस् (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) austerity
मानसम् mānasam मानस (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. mental
उच्यते ucyate √वच् pass. (passive) pres. (present) 3sg. is said
Purport

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 Kṛṣṇa consciousness and must always avoid sense gratification. To purify one’s nature is to become Kṛṣṇa 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, which is full of satisfying stories, as in the Purāṇas and the Mahābhārata. 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. The person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness observes perfect silence in this sense. Control of the mind means detaching the mind from sense enjoyment. One should be straightforward in his dealings and thereby purify his existence. All these qualities together constitute austerity in mental activities.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
16. Sattvic austerity of the mind consists of tranquility, gentleness, silence, control of the mind, and purity of the heart.
Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
16. Austerity of the mind consists of purity, gentleness, contemplation of ātmā, withdrawal from sense objects, and purity of the heart.
Commentary

The mind should be pure, without agitation from remembrance of sense objects (manaḥ prasādaḥ). It should be without cruelty, desiring everyone’s happiness (saumyatvam). It should be comtemplating the ātmā (maunam). The mind should withdraw from sense objects (ātma vinigrahaḥ). It should be free from deceit in dealings with others (bhāva saṁśuddhiḥ). These are the austerities to be achieved by the mind.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Austerity of mind (5 points)

Gravity in thought
Satisfaction
Simplicity
Self-control
Purification of one’s existence
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
17.16 Manah-prasadah, tranillity of mind, making the mind free from anxiety; saumyatvam, gentleness-that which is called kindliness of spirit, [Kindliness towards all, and also not entertaining any evil thought towards anybody.] a certain condition of the mind resulting in calmness of the face, etc.; maunam, reticence-since even the control of speech follows from the control of mind, therefore the cause is implied by the effect; so maunam means control of the mind; [Or, maunam may mean thinking of the Self, the attitude of a meditator. The context being of 'mental austerity', reticence is explained as control of the mind with regard to speech.] atma-vinigrahah, withdrawal of the mind-withdrawal of the mind in a general way, from everything; maunam (control of the mind) is the mind's withdrawal with regard to speech alone; this is the distinction-; bhava-samsuddhih, purity of heart, absence of trickery while dealing with others; iti etat, these are; what is ucyate, called; manasam, mental; tapah, austerity. How the above-described bodily, verbal and mental austerities undertaken by poeple are divided into three classes-of sattva etc.-is being stated:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
17.16 Serenity of mind, viz., absence of wrath etc., practice of benevolence, viz., the direction of the mind for the good of others, silence, viz., contorl of speech by the mind; self-control, viz., focusing the activity of the mind on the object of contemplation; purity of mind, viz., absence of thought about subjects other than the self - these constitute the austerity of the mind.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
17.14-16 Deva - etc. upto manasam ucyate : Honesty : uprightness, i.e., the courage regarding what needs no hiding. Which is true : This is explained by 'Which is pleasant and beneficial'. Pleasant : at the time of [hearing] that speech. And beneficial : something in future. This type of speech, but not merely speaking what actually happened, is called 'speaking the truth'. Purity of thought : 'Thought' denotes intention; its highest purity.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
17.16 Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, self-control, purity of nature this is called mental austerity.
Commentary

17.16 मनःप्रसादः serenity of mind? सौम्यत्वम् goodheartedness? मौनम् silence? आत्मविनिग्रहः selfcontrol? भावसंशुद्धिः purity of nature? इति thus? एतत् this? तपः austerity? मानसम् mental? उच्यते is called.Commentary Just as a lake which is without a ripple on it surface is very tranil? so also the mind which is free from modifications? from wandering thoughts of sensual objects? is ite serene and calm.Saumyatvam Intent on the welfare of all beings the state of mind which may be inferred from its effects? such as brightness of the face? etc.Maunam Even silence of speech is necessarily preceded by the control of thought? and so the effect is here used to stand for the cause? viz.? the control of thought this is the result of the control of thought so far as it concerns speech? silence of the mind? ability to remain calm even amidst disturbing factors from without. Mauna is the condition of the Muni (sage)? i.e.? practice of meditation with onepointedness of mind.Atmavinigrahah Selfcontrol A general control of the mind. Asamprajnata Samadhi wherein all the modifications of the mind are controlled. The mind cannot run after the senses and the senses cannot run after their objects. In Mauna there is control of thought so far as it concerns speech.Bhavasamsuddhih Purity of nature Honesty of purpose freedom from cunningness in dealing with other people the pure state of the mind wherein there is absence of lust? anger? greed? etc.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
17.16 Tranillity of mind, gentleness, reticence, withdrawal of the mind, purity of heart,-these are what is called mental austerity.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
17.16 Serenity, kindness, silence, self-control and purity - this is austerity of mind.
Related values & verses
Related values
Dhairya (Composure / Courage)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Arjava (Simplicity / Straightforwardness)Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Svadhyaya (Self-study & Scripture Study)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Abhaya (Fearlessness)Adambhitva (Non-hypocrisy / Authenticity)
Related verses
BG 6.25 BG 2.55 BG 12.13 SB 11.19.36 SB 7.15.25 SB 1.2.19 CC Madhya 22.114 CC Antya 20.21 CC Madhya 8.69 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.13BRS 1.2.77
Sciences essays referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Austerity of the mind — satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control, purity of thought.
Practical Applications
  • Cultivate satisfaction over chronic dissatisfaction.
  • Practice gravity over flippancy.
  • Honor mental austerity equal with bodily and verbal.
Reflection Questions
  • Which mental austerity is hardest for me?
  • What discipline would build it?
Analogy

Mental austerity is like polishing a mirror behind which no one sees you work. The body's tapas is visible; speech-tapas is audible; but mānasa-tapas is performed in a room with no witnesses. The mirror gradually becomes clear and the Lord can be seen in it — but only the polisher knows the polishing happened.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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