Bhagavad Gita · Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga YogaChapter 16, Shloka 2 (16.2)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्
दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्
॥ 16.2 ॥
ahiṃsā satyamakrodhastyāgaḥ śāntirapaiśunam
dayā bhūteṣvaloluptvaṃ mārdavaṃ hrīracāpalam
Translation
"Non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, peace, refraining from slander, compassion for all beings, freedom from greed, gentleness, modesty and absence of restlessness —"
Interpretation
Shankaracharya. ahiṃsā ahiṃsanaṃ prāṇināṃ pīḍāvarjanam; satyam apriyānṛtavarjitaṃ yathābhūtārthavacanam — speech that is true to fact, free of what is unpleasant and of falsehood; parasmai pararandhraprakaṭīkaraṇaṃ paiśunam — exposing someone's faults to others is slander.
Ramanujacharya. satyaṃ yathādṛṣṭārthagocarabhūtahitavākyam — words that match what was seen and are for the good of beings; dayā bhūteṣu sarveṣu duḥkhāsahiṣṇutvam — being unable to bear the suffering of anyone.
Shridhara Swami. Simple definitions: akrodhas tāḍitasyāpi citte kṣobhānutpattiḥ — no agitation arising in the mind even when struck; tyāga audāryam — renunciation = generosity; bhūteṣu dīneṣu dayā — compassion for those in hardship; hrīḥ akāryapravṛttau lokalajjā; acāpalaṃ vyarthakriyārāhityam — not doing pointless things.
Madhusudana Saraswati. hiṃsā prāṇivṛtticchedaḥ — cutting off someone's livelihood or way of life is also violence; truth = anarthānanubandhi yathābhūtārthavacanam — factual speech that does not bring harm; gentleness = vṛthāpūrvapakṣādiṣv api śiṣyādiṣu — gentleness even towards students' pointless arguments.
Madhvacharya. Slander = paropadravanimittadoṣāṇāṃ rājādeḥ kathanam — reporting others' faults to the king (those in authority) in order to get them into trouble.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.