Verse 18.42

Verse 18.42: “Peace of mind, restraint of senses, austerity, purity, forbearance, as also straightforwardness; knowledge, realisation, and spiritual faith: (these) constitute the activity of a Brahmin, born of his innate nature. (833)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

The peaceful state of the intellect, which grasping in its hand the sense-tendencies, meets the soul in private, in the way a wedded wife does (meet) her husband that peaceful state is called the peace of mind (śama) and all actions (of a Brahmin) have their origin in this quality. The second (quality) is the restraint of the senses, which keeps under proper control the unruly organs of actions with the help of the rod in the form of Scriptural mandates, and always prevents them from turning to irreligious (forbidden) matters.

This restraint of senses (dama) helps the holy peace of mind in all actions and through it all actions take place according to (the doer’s own) religion. That quality on account of which there remains ever fresh in mind the memory of God, with the vigilance with which the flame of the burning wick in a lamp is carefully watched [Note: It is considered to be an evil omen if perchance the flame of the wick in the lamp is extinguished during that night] on the sixth night (dedicated to the worship of Satavi—saṭavīciye rātīṃ) of child-birth—is austerity (tapa), the third quality which is traced in all actions (of a Brahmin). Similarly there is found in the actions, the sinless purity (śucitva): it is two-fold, viz. the mind is full of pure thoughts, while the body is ornamented with good actions, thus making the life pure internally and externally—that state is called ‘purity’, Oh Partha, and that is the fourth quality found in actions (of a Brahmin). Now that allenduring power like that of the earth is called forbearance (kṣamā), Oh Son of Pandu, and it is the fifth quality, just as sweet and pleasant as the ‘Panchama’ (pañcama—the fifth) amongst the seven notes in music.

Even though the (water) course be crooked the holy Ganges (waters) flows straight (towards the sea), or even though there be crookedness or bend at the joints of a sugar-cane yet sweetness is the same all over in that way to behave in a straight-forward way, even though (other) beings be of adverse tendencies is what is called ‘straightforwardness’ (ārjava) and it is the sixth quality in the actions (of a Brahmin). A gardener waters a tree and ceaselessly labours at its base, in the full knowledge that his labours are to be rewarded by the tree bearing fruit. In that way, knowing well that the performance of actions strictly according to the Scriptural enjoinments, is only for the sake of attaining the Supreme, is what is here called ‘knowledge’ (jñāna) and it is the seventh quality found in the actions (of a Brahmin).

Next comes the ‘realisation’ (vijñāna), whose nature is as follows: when steadfast intellect is unified with the essence of God on the strength of the knowledge of the Scriptures, or through spiritual meditation, Sattva quality being totally purged of the dross adhering to it in the form of Rajas and Tamas, is what is called the best ‘realisation’ and it is the eighth of the quality-gems, while a complete spiritual faith, is the ninth quality. I define it (spiritual faith) thus: to regard with deep respect all the means sanctioned and approved by the Scriptures, even as subjects receive with respect any person or a thing (document, coin, etc.) invested with royal insignia and actions possessing this quality are productive of good (real). Thus actions consisting of these nine qualities such as ‘peace of mind’ and others, that are by nature spotlessly pure, constitute the natural actions of a Brahmin and one securing the necklace of these nine gems becomes as it were an ocean (ratnākara) of these nine qualities.

The Sun holds full light without parting with anything of his own, or the ‘Champaka flower tree’ gets decorated with its own flowers, or the Moon becomes lustrous with her own light, or the sandal wood is fragrant with its own fragrance: in that way this nine-gemmed article is the spotless ornament of the Brahmins and the person of a Brahmin is never dissociated from this ornament. Now, Oh Dhananjaya, I preach what are the proper qualities (duties) of the Kshatriyas and you hear with all your intelligence.