अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् ।
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
उद्वेग न करनेवाला, सत्य, प्रिय, हितकारक भाषण तथा स्वाध्याय और अभ्यास करना यह वाणीसम्बन्धी तप कहा जाता है ॥
English
Speech that does not agitate, is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, together with study and practice, is called austerity of speech.
What this verse means
Speech becomes a disciplined practice when it is calm, truthful, kind, helpful, and supported by study.
Context & commentary
Krishna is still teaching Arjuna how inner discipline takes shape in daily life. After describing bodily austerity, he turns to speech: words should not disturb, should be true, pleasant, and useful, and should be backed by regular study.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send a text that could inflame everything, or calm it. This verse asks whether your words reduce heat, carry truth, and actually help before you hit send.
The takeaway
Your words can become a form of self-training, not just self-expression.
Word-by-word translation
अनुद्वेगकरं (not causing agitation) / वाक्यं (speech) / सत्यं (true) / प्रियहितं (pleasant and beneficial) / च (and) / यत् (which) / स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं (study and practice) / च (and) / एव (indeed) / वाङ्मयं (of speech) / तपः (austerity) / उच्यते (is called)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Kinds of Faith, which contains 28 verses.