buddhir jñānam asammohaḥ kṣhamā satyaṁ damaḥ śhamaḥ
sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ bhavo ’bhāvo bhayaṁ chābhayameva cha
buddhiḥ — intellect;
jñānam — knowledge;
asammohaḥ — clarity of thought;
kṣhamā — forgiveness;
satyam — truthfulness;
damaḥ — control over the senses;
śhamaḥ — control of the mind;
sukham — joy;
duḥkham — sorrow;
bhavaḥ — birth;
abhāvaḥ — death;
bhayam — fear;
cha — and;
abhayam — courage;
eva — certainly;
cha — and;
In this verse, Krishna talks about many important qualities that people can have, both good and not-so-good. He says that all these qualities come from Him. Let's break them down:
1. **Intellect**: This means the ability to think clearly and make sense of things. It's about having good judgment and being able to analyze different situations or ideas thoughtfully.
2. **Wisdom**: This is more than just knowledge. It's about understanding the difference between what is temporary (like our body) and what is eternal (like our soul). True wisdom helps us make better choices in life.
3. **Non-delusion (Clarity of Thought)**: This means not being confused or tricked by false ideas. When we have a clear understanding of things, we can see the truth more easily. It’s important to keep questioning and not just accept everything blindly.
4. **Forgiveness**: This refers to letting go of anger or resentment when someone does something wrong. It shows that we can be compassionate towards others and that we understand everyone makes mistakes.
5. **Truthfulness**: This means being honest and speaking the truth, even if it's difficult to hear. It’s about sharing facts that help others, not just saying what they want to hear.
6. **Self-restraint**: This is the ability to control your desires and not give in to everything you feel like doing. While it’s fine to enjoy things, overindulging or getting distracted by too much pleasure can harm our growth in life.
7. **Calmness**: This is about keeping a cool head and not getting overwhelmed or agitated easily. It means focusing on what’s truly important—like spiritual growth—rather than getting caught up in unnecessary worries.
8. **Happiness**: In this context, happiness is the kind that helps us grow spiritually. It’s not just about feeling good in the moment; it’s about finding joy in building a deeper connection with ourselves and with the divine.
9. **Pain**: Pain here is anything that gets in the way of our spiritual development. It’s not just about physical suffering; it can also be emotional pain that distracts us from our true purpose in life.
10. **Existence/Birth and Non-existence/Death**: These terms talk about our physical form—being born and eventually dying. However, Krishna reminds us that our true essence, the soul, never dies. The soul is eternal and does not change, unlike our bodies.
11. **Fear**: Fear often comes from not understanding the nature of our soul. When we are unaware of our eternal existence, we might fear death or the unknown.
12. **Fearlessness**: This quality can be gained through faith and understanding. When we know that there’s a spiritual path and that we have a bright future beyond this life, we can feel more secure and fearless.
In summary, Krishna emphasizes how important it is to develop these qualities for our spiritual journey. He teaches us to think clearly, be wise, forgive others, and stay true and calm. By understanding the eternal nature of our soul, we can let go of fear and live a more fulfilling life.