Chapter 17: Śraddhā-traya-vibhāga-yoga:: Verse 16
मन:प्रसाद: सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रह: ।
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ॥
mana:-prasāda: saumyatvaṃ
maunam-ātma-vinigraha:
bhāva-saṃśuddhir-ity-etattapo
mānasam-ucyate – 17.16
Cheerful calmness of the mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, attitudinal and emotional purity are held to constitute mental austerity.
Chapter 17: Śraddhā-traya-vibhāga-yoga: - Verse 16
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Only when one comes to know that he has the freedom to incorporate in him healthy and benevolent qualities and virtues, he can begin to cultivate them. So, timely exposure to the scriptural truths is indispensable. Vyasadeva (the author of Mahabharata) documenting it in the form of Bhagavad Gita thus has a unique role in shaping the quality, growth and enrichment of human life.
The mind has the potential to display a variety of moods and dispositions. It is for everyone to cultivate the pleasant ones, by using discretion and ingenuity. Krishna says that one should be cheerful, not gloomy. In the same way, gentleness, not harshness, should grace one’s behaviour and interaction.
Instead of being talkative, one should practise silence, which has marvellous salutary effects. One must have control over his senses and mind. Also, he should be alert in practising purity of attitude and emotions. All these go to make mental austerity.
