8/22/2019 20 Noble Virtues

1/2

20 noble Virtues leading to Moksha (Liberation) ====

English

"Om namo bhagavate vasudevayah"

In earlier posts 4 ways have been described for liberation. Yet there is even more direct way to achieve the liberation.

Lord Krishna while explaining to Arjuna about the Body(Ksetra) and Purusha(Individual consciousness) very clearly specified

20 virtues by following which a human is going to achieve liberation(Moksha) after departing from this body.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ch13:Sh (8,9,10,11,12)

amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa ksantir arjavam

acaryopasanam shaucamsthairyam atma-vinigrahah

indriyarthesu vairagyam anahankara eva ca

janma-mrityu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarshanam

ashaktir anabhisvangah putra-dara-grhadisu

nityam ca sama-cittatvam istanistopapattisu

mayi cananya-yogena bhaktir avyabhicarini

vivikta-desa-sevitvam aratir jana-samsadi

adhyatma-jnana-nityatvam tattva-jnanartha-darshanam

etaj jnanam iti proktam ajnanam yad ato nyatha

"Humility; pridelessness; nonviolence; tolerance; simplicity; approaching a bona fide spiritual master; cleanliness;

steadiness; self-control; renunciation of the objects of sense gratification; absence of false ego; the perception of the evil of

birth, death, old age and disease; detachment; freedom from entanglement with children, wife, home and the rest; even-

mindedness amid pleasant and unpleasant events; constant and unalloyed devotion to Me; aspiring to live in a solitary

place; detachment from the general mass of people; accepting the importance of self-realization; and philosophical search

for the Absolute Truthall these I declare to be knowledge, and besides this whatever there may be is ignorance."

-------------------------------------------------------------------Let's list down each virtues for the simplicity. Words used in the shloka are used with their meaning

1. amanitvam : Humility or not seeking recognition,

2. adambhitvam : To be without pride,

3. ahimsa : Not causing pain to other living beings,

4. ksanti is : Tolerance in the face of insults,

5. arjava : Uprightness and straightforwardness,

6. acaryapasana : Unreserved and unmotivated service to the Vaisnava spiritual master,

7. sauca: means purity both internal and external.

In the Sandilya Upanisad beginning saucam ca dvividham prohitam refers to two types of purity. External purity is obtained

by rubbing earth and water while internal purity is obtained by purification of the mind.

8. sthairya :Steadfastness on the path of righteousness by one who has accepted it,

9. atma-vinigraha : Control over the body and the senses which uncontrolled hinder realisation of the atma or immortal

soul,

10. vairagya indriyartha : Renunciation of sense objects,

11. ahankarah : Relinquishing false ego and identification of the physical body as the self,

12. dukha-dosa-anudarsanam :Dispassion by pondering the misery of samsara or the perpetual cycle of birth and death in

material existence,

13. asakti : Equipoise to the relations like wife, sons and other loved ones,

14. anabhisvanga : Remaining even minded to s what life gives whether evil or excellence befalls one,

8/22/2019 20 Noble Virtues

2/2

15. sama-citta means to avoid both happiness or distress by temporary external circumstances.

16. avyabhicarini bhakti : Unwavering, unalloyed loving devotion to the Supreme Lord Krishna and realising the atma in all

living beings,

17. vivekta- desa-sevitam : Fondness for performing austerities in solitary places,

18. aratir jana-samsadt : Indifference to mundane topics and mundane association.

19. adhyatma-jnana nityatvam : Always interested in spiritual knowledge and self-realisation and

20. atma-tattva : Knowledge of the immortal soul within.

Thus these 20 virtues that have been described by Lord Krishna constitute the essence of knowledge for their attributes are

the means which opens the way to this highest existence. Whatever is contrary to these 20 virtues of renowned excellence

should always be rejected as it is understood to be ignorance and emphatically antagonistic to truth. This has been

confirmed in by gone ages by great sages and seers such as Vyasa, Vasistha and Parasara.

These noble virtues are the standard to knwo the nobility of human and hence society. More virtues followed make society

happier and on other hand fewer of these virtues lesser peace and happiness in society.

We human should not delay in following these principles which are the sure way to bring ultimate peace in present life and

then to attain moksha after departing from this body.

May Bhagvan Shri Krishna give you sense and power to follow these noble principles.