Chapter 18 Verse 42

Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, and uprightness, as well as knowledge, realization, and belief in God, are the duties of Brahmanas, born of their own nature.

Core Meaning

This verse names the steady virtues of a spiritually mature person: calmness, self-control, disciplined practice, cleanliness, patience, and honest behavior. It adds inner knowing, deeper wisdom, and faith in the ultimate reality as natural qualities that guide right action.

When Krishna says these are “born of one’s nature,” he means true duty grows from who you are inside, not just from external labels. In practice, these qualities are signs of inner strength and readiness for higher understanding, available to anyone who chooses to cultivate them.

These traits shape how you act in daily life: they calm the mind, steady decisions, and lead to service rooted in clarity rather than ego or habit.

Life Application

• Start small: practice a short daily breathing or quieting routine to build calm and self-control.
• Choose one simple habit for purity and integrity—clean workspace, honest speech, or forgiving one small grievance each week.
• Learn and reflect: read a short spiritual passage or journal about an experience to grow practical wisdom and steady faith.

Reflection Question

Which one of these qualities would most help me live more honestly and peacefully today?