Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 17 › Verse 15
Bhagavad Gītā 17.15: Kind and true words
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् ।
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥
anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ ca yat
svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate
Meaning
Speech that causes no distress, that is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, and the regular practice of sacred recitation — this is called austerity of speech. It is one of three kinds of tapas (body, speech, mind) in 17.14–16.
For children
Krishna says: “Say things that are true, kind and helpful, and that don’t hurt anyone. And practise your chanting!” That is how we take care of our words.
In chapter 17, Kṛṣṇa describes disciplines of body, speech and mind.
Word by word
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं — Words that do not upset others
- anudvegakara: not causing upset
- vākya: words, speech
सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् — that are true, kind and helpful
- satya: true
- priya: pleasant, kind
- hita: helpful, good for others
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव — and regular chanting and study
- svādhyāya: study and recitation of scripture
- abhyasana: regular practice
वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते — this is called discipline of speech
- vāṅmaya: made of speech
- tapas: discipline, effort
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.