Humility

Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya, upadekshyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darshinah

Understand this by approaching a teacher with humility, by sincere questioning, and by service. The wise who have directly seen the truth will impart that knowledge to you.

Vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini, shuni caiva shvapake ca panditah sama-darshinah

The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater.

Nanto 'sti mama divyanam vibhutinam parantapa, esha tuddeshatah prokto vibhuter vistaro maya

There is no end to My divine opulences, O Parantapa. What I have spoken to you is only a brief indication of My infinite opulences. The Lord acknowledges that even this extensive list of vibhutis is only a small sample — the infinite cannot be fully captured in words, only pointed to and approximated.

Manyase yadi tac chakyam maya drashtum iti prabho, yogeshvara tato me tvam darshayatmanam avyayam

O master of all mystic powers, if You think it possible for me to behold Your universal form, then please reveal that imperishable self to me.

Tatah sa vismayavishto hrshtaroma dhananjayah, pranamya shirasa devam kritanjalir abhasata

Then Arjuna, filled with amazement, his hair standing on end, bowed his head before the Lord, joined his palms, and began to speak.

Tasmāt tvam uttiṣhṭha yaśho labhasva jitvā śhatrūn bhuṅkṣhva rājyaṁ samṛiddham, mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sāchin

Therefore, arise and attain glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. They are already slain by My arrangement; you are merely an instrument.

Tasmāt praṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṁ prasādaye tvām aham īśham īḍyam, piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum

Therefore, bowing down and prostrating my body, I seek Your grace, O adorable Lord. As a father tolerates his son, a friend his friend, and a lover his beloved, please tolerate my offenses, O God.

Adveshta sarva-bhutanam maitrah karuna eva cha, nirmamo nirahankarah sama-duhkha-sukhah kshami

One who is not envious but a kind friend to all living entities, free from proprietorship and false ego, equal in happiness and distress, forgiving.

Amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa kshantirarjavam, acharyopasanam shaucham sthairyam atma-vinigrahah

Humility, pridelessness, nonviolence, tolerance, simplicity, approaching a genuine teacher, cleanliness, steadiness, and self-control — these constitute the beginning of the twenty qualities of knowledge. Cultivating these virtues purifies the heart for higher realization.

Amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa kshantir arjavam, acharyopasanam shaucham sthairyam atma-vinigrahah

Humility, unpretentiousness, non-violence, forgiveness, simplicity, approaching a bona fide spiritual master, cleanliness, steadiness, and self-control.

Tejah kshama dhritih shaucham adroho nati-manita, bhavanti sampadam daivim abhijatasya bharata

Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of malice, and absence of pride—these qualities belong to those endowed with divine nature, O Arjuna.