Bhagavad Gita · Shraddhatraya Vibhaga YogaChapter 17, Shloka 15 (17.15)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते
॥ 17.15 ॥
anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ ca yat
svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate
Translation
"Words that cause no agitation, that are truthful, pleasant and beneficial — and the regular practice of self-study — this is called austerity of speech."
Interpretation
Shankaracharya. anudvegakaraṃ prāṇinām aduḥkhakaraṃ; anudvegakaratvādibhiḥ dharmaiḥ vākyaṃ viśeṣyate — all four qualities must be present together; if even one is missing, it is not austerity of speech.
Acharya Ramanuja. pareṣām anudvegakaraṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ ca yad vākyaṃ.
Madhusudana Saraswati. The definition and condition of all four qualities: satyaṃ pramāṇamūlam abādhitārthaṃ — grounded in valid evidence, not contradicted; priyaṃ śrotus tatkālaśrutisukhaṃ — pleasant at the time of hearing; hitaṃ pariṇāme sukhakaraṃ — pleasant in its outcome; and anudvegakaratvādiviśeṣaṇacatuṣṭayena viśiṣṭaṃ na tv ekenāpi viśeṣaṇena nyūnaṃ — possessing all four, lacking not even one. Example: śānto bhava vatsa svādhyāyaṃ yogaṃ cānutiṣṭha tathā te śreyo bhaviṣyati — "Be calm, my child; study and practise yoga; this will be for your good".
Shridhara Swami. udvegaṃ bhayaṃ na karotīty anudvegakaraṃ — that which does not produce fear.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.