Illustration for Bhagavad Gita chapter 16 verse 2
Chapter 16 · Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga

Quiet Virtues · The Everyday Building Blocks of Goodness

अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम् । दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम् ॥

ahiṁsā satyam akrodhas tyāgaḥ śāntir apaiśunam dayā bhūteṣv aloluptvaṁ mārdavaṁ hrīr acāpalam

Meaning

"Non-violence, truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation, peace, freedom from fault-finding, compassion for beings, non-greed, gentleness, modesty, and steadiness."

Explanation

This is a long, almost breathless list of qualities, and none of them are flashy — they're all quiet, everyday virtues. Divine nature, the Gita suggests, is built from these small, steady habits, not dramatic feats.

Today's Life Lesson

Practice one small, quiet virtue today — a moment of patience or honesty — rather than waiting for a chance to do something big.

More verses to reflect on