Verse 17.16 : Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga "Three Divisions of Faith"
Verse 16 of 28
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The Translation
“Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of heart—these are declared to constitute austerity of the mind.”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna defines the austerity of the mind (mānasam tapaḥ). This is the most subtle and powerful form of discipline in Yoga, as the mind is the source of all actions and speech.
Practical Application
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Spend 5 minutes in complete mental silence today, letting go of the need to plan, calculate, or worry.
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- How is mental silence (mauna) different from just keeping your mouth shut? How does it affect your energy?
- What does it mean to have 'purity of heart' (bhāva-saṁśuddhi) in your daily relationships? Can you act without hidden motives?
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17.16
मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः
Shankara comments that mental serenity is that clean state of the mind which is free from anxiety, anger, or sadness. Silence (mauna) is the stillness of thoughts, which arises from control of the intellect. Purity of heart is the complete absence of deceit or duplicate motives when interacting with others. This is the highest level of Tapas.