Chapter XVI · Śloka 1
Śrī Kṛṣṇa uvāca
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः ।
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ॥
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः ।
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम् ॥
śrī bhagavān uvāca |
abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhiḥ jñānayogavyavasthitiḥ |
dānaṃ damaś ca yajñaś ca svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam ||
abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhiḥ jñānayogavyavasthitiḥ |
dānaṃ damaś ca yajñaś ca svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam ||
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity, uprightness —
Krishna opens with the first cluster of divine endowments: fearlessness crowns the list because all other virtues depend on the courage to act rightly without dread of consequence. Purity of heart (sattva-saṃśuddhi) is the inner ground from which true knowledge and practice grow.