Commentary

Commentary

Verse 2 continues the catalogue of divine qualities that Krishna began in verse 1. Where verse 1 laid the foundation with fearlessness, purity, and steadiness, verse 2 turns to the qualities that govern how one relates to other beings and to the world.

Ahimsa — non-violence — stands first in this list. It is the principle that no living being should be harmed unnecessarily. True ahimsa is not passive weakness but a conscious commitment to avoiding injury in thought, word, and deed. The Gita does not confuse ahimsa with inaction; Arjuna is being told to fight. But the spirit behind action matters — violence born of dharma is different from violence born of cruelty.

Satyam — truthfulness — means more than not lying. It means aligning one’s speech with reality, not distorting facts for personal advantage. Akrodha — freedom from anger — does not mean never feeling anger, but not being controlled by it. Tyaaga — renunciation — refers to letting go of attachment to results. Shaanti — inner peace that comes from a settled mind.

Apaishunam — not finding fault in others, not engaging in backbiting or slander. Dayaa — compassion for all creatures. Aloluptvam — freedom from the restless craving that greed produces. Maardavam — the gentleness that comes from inner strength, not weakness. Hree — a healthy sense of shame that prevents one from doing what is wrong. And achaapalam — steadiness, the absence of fickleness and restlessness.

Together with verse 1 and verse 3, these twenty-six qualities form the complete portrait of the person moving toward liberation. They are not superhuman powers but everyday virtues, available to anyone willing to practice them.