Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 16 (BG 17.16) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

# BG 17.16 — Commentary on Mental Austerity and the Five Ideals of Life When the five ideals of life mentioned in this verse are embraced and woven together into one's existence, they constitute what is called mental austerity. Peace of mind—that tranquility of the heart—can only be attained when our relationship with the world is grounded in the wholesome values of wisdom, forbearance, and love. For the undisciplined and sensually indulgent person, such peace remains elusive. The mind of such a one perpetually wanders through the objects of sense, forever seeking pleasure through the senses. It is the endless craving for sensory gratification that drives this ceaseless restlessness of the mind. Only when the mind is guarded against external objects and freed from internal desires can a human being find true peace. The seeker who has attained such a divine and noble ideal—in whom the mind and intellect, having shed their fickleness, become absorbed and still—alone can experience the true peace of mind. **Gentleness** is the sentiment of love and goodwill toward all beings. In the heart of such a compassionate seeker, there never arises the feeling that others are oppressing him, nor is he ever shaken by external circumstances. **Silence** is not merely the absence of speech. While silence ordinarily refers to the quieting of words, here Sri Krishna speaks of silence in the context of mental austerity. There is no contradiction. When the mind is at rest, the control and restraint of speech becomes possible. True silence is the state of a mind free from the clamor of desire and attachment. The very nature of the sage is silence. Thus, silence means contemplative wisdom. **Self-restraint** — The attainment of peace of mind, gentleness, and silence cannot succeed until we exercise careful and deliberate self-restraint. Our animal tendencies are often powerful and bring us under their sway. Therefore, it becomes necessary to keep them in check through discernment and vigilance. **Purity of Intention** — This refers to the sanctity and purity of our aims and purposes. Without purity of intention, self-restraint becomes difficult. Without a noble goal in life, one remains vulnerable to the temptations of sensory pleasures. Therefore, the seeker must establish a clear purpose and steadily advance along the path toward its fulfillment with patience. Our goal and intention must be so divine that it grants us strength and inspiration; otherwise, we may undermine our own potential and hasten our own ruin. Thus, in the three verses above, the true nature of austerity has been described. Different seekers practice this austerity with equal faith, yet they appear to receive different fruits. This is no mere coincidence. Those who practice austerity are of three kinds—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Because of these differences in nature, there is a difference in their practice of austerity. It is natural, therefore, that the fruits they obtain will also differ. In the next three verses, we shall describe the threefold austerity.