Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 3 Meaning
Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride—these belong to one born for a divine state, O Arjuna.
BG 16.3
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता। भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत
tejaḥ kṣhamā dhṛitiḥ śhaucham adroho nāti-mānitā bhavanti sampadaṁ daivīm abhijātasya bhārata
Meaning
Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride—these belong to one born for a divine state, O Arjuna.
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What Does Bhagavad Gita 16.3 Mean?
Krishna completes the list of divine qualities with vigor ('tejah'), forgiveness ('kshama'), fortitude ('dhritih'), purity ('shaucham'), freedom from hatred, and absence of excessive pride. The inclusion of vigor alongside forgiveness is instructive: spiritual life is not passive. It requires genuine strength and energy — but strength channeled through purity rather than aggression. Forgiveness and fortitude together suggest a person who can absorb difficulty without being broken or embittered.
The final phrase — 'these belong to one born for a divine state' — uses the language of birth but implies cultivation. The Gita's teaching throughout is that destiny is shaped by practice, not merely inherited. One becomes 'born for the divine state' through the sustained development of these qualities across lifetimes and within this one. Practically, this verse reminds us that spiritual aspiration requires real vitality.
Cultivating vigor — physical, mental, and moral — is itself a spiritual practice. The path to liberation demands not weakness but a strong and purified strength.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 16.3?
The qualities that lead to liberation versus those that lead to bondage.
Key themes in this chapter include Divine qualities, Demoniac qualities, Character.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 16.3 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with divine qualities
- •When practicing demoniac qualities amid uncertainty
- •When applying character to real-life choices
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Related Verses
BG 16.1
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity, and straightforwardness.
BG 16.2
Harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion for beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
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