Bhagavad Gita — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, Shloka 15

Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga

Devanagari script

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् । स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥ १७.१५ ॥

Transliteration

anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priya-hitaṃ ca yat | svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate || 17.15 ||

Translation

જે વાણી ઉદ્વેગ ન કરાવે એવી, સત્ય, પ્રિય અને હિતકારક હોય, તેમજ સ્વાધ્યાયનો અભ્યાસ—આને વાઙ્મય તપ કહે છે.

Gita Press Meaning

जो वाणी उद्वेग न करने वाली हो, सत्य हो, प्रिय और हितकारक हो तथा स्वाध्याय का अभ्यास हो—यह वाङ्मय तप कहा जाता है।

Critical Edition Meaning

Speech that does not agitate, that is truthful, pleasant and beneficial; and the practice of recitation/study (svādhyāya)—this is called austerity of speech.

Comparative Note

‘Priya’ (pleasant) and ‘hita’ (beneficial) can be in tension; commentators often treat the ideal as truth expressed with care and constructive intent. ‘Svādhyāya’ may mean Vedic recitation in older contexts, and more generally disciplined study/self-study in broader reception.

Word by Word

• अनुद्वेगकरम्: causing no agitation (non-disturbing)
• Root: अनुद्वेगकर

• वाक्यम्: speech; statement; utterance
• Root: वाक्य

• सत्यम्: truthful
• Root: सत्य

• प्रियहितम्: pleasant and beneficial
• Root: प्रियहित

• च: and
• Root: च

• यत्: which (that)
• Root: यद्

• स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनम्: study of scripture and practice (repetition/discipline)
• Root: स्वाध्यायाभ्यसन

• च: and
• Root: च

• एव: indeed; just; only
• Root: एव

• वाङ्मयम्: consisting of speech; verbal
• Root: वाङ्मय

• तपः: austerity; discipline
• तपः: Karta
• Root: तपस्

• उच्यते: is said; is called
• Root: √वच्

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Tapas
• Vāk (speech ethics)
• Satya (truthfulness)
• Svādhyāya (study/recitation)

Key Themes

• Ethical communication
• Truth with kindness and benefit
• Self-cultivation through study
• Non-agitating expression

FAQs

Psychological significance?

It identifies regulated speech as a discipline that reduces interpersonal friction and internal reactivity, promoting steadier attention and emotional self-control.

Metaphysical meaning?

Speech is treated as a locus of tapas: by aligning words with truth, care, and benefit, one refines the instrument of expression that shapes cognition and social reality.

Contextual relevance?

It continues the taxonomy of austerity by moving from bodily discipline (17.14) to verbal discipline (17.15), preparing for mental austerity in the subsequent verse.

Modern Application?

It can guide communication ethics: truthful statements delivered in a non-provocative manner, oriented toward constructive outcomes, along with ongoing learning and reflective study.