Bhagavad Gita 17.16 · Krishna
Discipline of the mind
मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।
भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते॥
manaḥ prasādaḥ saumyatvaṃ maunamātmavinigrahaḥbhāvasaṃśuddhirityetattapo mānasamucyate
A clear and happy mind, gentleness, silence, self-mastery and purity of feeling are called discipline of the mind.
Words
- tapas
What it means
Krishna describes mental tapas. Manah prasada, a clear, cheerful mind. Gentleness. Inner quiet. Self-mastery. And a pure heart, free of hidden motives. This is the subtlest discipline. No one can see it from outside. But everyone feels its effect when they're near you.
The story
Arjuna's mind has been a battlefield all day. Krishna shows him what it could feel like instead, cheerful, gentle and quiet.
In your life
Think of someone whose calm presence settles a tense room without a word. That's mental discipline. Spend five quiet minutes today letting your mind settle, like water in a glass.
A gentle, quiet mind blesses everyone.