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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 3 (16.3)

Reflective Prompt:

How do you view qualities like hypocrisy, pride, anger, and arrogance when you observe them in yourself or others?

  • Option 1: As natural and necessary qualities to survive and win in a competitive world.
  • Option 2: As negative obstacles (demoniac tendencies) that create division, anger, and mental bondage.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 3 (16.3)

तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता । भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत | | १६-३ | |

tejaḥ kṣhamā dhṛitiḥ śhauchamadroho nātimānitā bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīmabhijātasya bhārata

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • तेजः (tejah) — तेज(vigor/valour)
  • क्षमा (kshama) — क्षमा(forgiveness)
  • धृतिः (dhritih) — धैर्य(fortitude/inner strength)
  • शौचम् (shaucham) — शुद्धता(cleanliness/purity)
  • अद्रोहः (adroho) — द्वेष का अभाव(freedom from malice/hate)
  • n joined in nātimānitā
  • अतिमानिता (atimanita) — अभिमान का अभाव(freedom from pride/vanity)
Line 2:
  • भवन्ति (bhavanti) — होते हैं(are/belong)
  • सम्पदम् (sampadam) — संपदा(qualities)
  • दैवीम् (daivim) — दैवी(divine/godly)
  • अभिजातस्य (abhijatasya) — जन्मे हुए का(of one born with)
  • भारत (Bharata) — हे भारत(Arjuna)

English: Valour, forgiveness, inner strength, purity, freedom from hate and vanity; these are his who possesses the Godly qualities, Arjuna,

💡 Commentary Note

Krishna completes the divine traits with vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, and absence of malice or vanity. These belong to one born with godly traits.

Learnings from Shloka 3:
  • Forgiveness and Fortitude:: The capacity to forgive and maintain inner strength (dhriti) in adversity is a sign of high character.
  • Absence of Vanity:: Real strength is humble; it does not seek constant praise or social validation.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 16.3 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary