The 20 Qualities of Knowledge (Jnana)

In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, verses 8-12, Krishna describes 20 qualities that constitute true knowledge (Jnana). These qualities are not just intellectual understandings but are lived values that prepare the mind for the realization of the absolute truth.

The Verses

Gita Verse 13.8

Sanskrit

अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्।आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः।।13.8।।

Transliteration

amānitvam adambhitvam ahinsā kṣhāntir ārjavam

āchāryopāsanaṁ śhauchaṁ sthairyam ātma-vinigrahaḥ

Translation

Humility, unpretentiousness, non-injury, forgiveness, uprightness, service to the teacher, purity, steadfastness, and self-control.

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Gita Verse 13.9

Sanskrit

इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यमनहङ्कार एव च।जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखदोषानुदर्शनम्।।13.9।।

Transliteration

indriyārtheṣhu vairāgyam anahankāra eva cha

janma-mṛityu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣhānudarśhanam

Translation

Indifference to the objects of the senses and also absence of egoism; perceiving the evil in birth, death, old age, sickness, and pain.

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Gita Verse 13.10

Sanskrit

असक्ितरनभिष्वङ्गः पुत्रदारगृहादिषु।नित्यं च समचित्तत्वमिष्टानिष्टोपपत्तिषु।।13.10।।

Transliteration

asaktir anabhiṣhvaṅgaḥ putra-dāra-gṛihādiṣhu

nityaṁ cha sama-chittatvam iṣhṭāniṣhṭopapattiṣhu

Translation

Non-attachment, non-identification of the Self with son, wife, home, and the rest, and constant even-mindedness in the face of the attainment of both desirable and undesirable.

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Gita Verse 13.11

Sanskrit

मयि चानन्ययोगेन भक्ितरव्यभिचारिणी।विविक्तदेशसेवित्वमरतिर्जनसंसदि।।13.11।।

Transliteration

mayi chānanya-yogena bhaktir avyabhichāriṇī

vivikta-deśha-sevitvam aratir jana-sansadi

Translation

Unswerving devotion to Me through the Yoga of non-separation, resorting to solitary places, and a distaste for the company of people.

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Gita Verse 13.12

Sanskrit

अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्।एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोन्यथा।।13.12।।

Transliteration

adhyātma-jñāna-nityatvaṁ tattva-jñānārtha-darśhanam

etaj jñānam iti proktam ajñānaṁ yad ato ’nyathā

Translation

Constancy in Self-knowledge, the perception of the end of true knowledge—this is declared to be knowledge, and what is opposed to it is ignorance.

Table of Qualities of Knowledge

#	Sanskrit	Transliteration	Translation / Meaning	Verse
1	अमानित्वम्	Amānitvam	Humility / Humbleness	Gita Verse 13.8
2	अदम्भित्वम्	Adambhitvam	Unpretentiousness / Freedom from hypocrisy	Gita Verse 13.8
3	अहिंसा	Ahimsa	Non-violence / Non-injury	Gita Verse 13.8
4	क्षान्तिः	Kṣhāntiḥ	Forgiveness / Patience (Kshama)	Gita Verse 13.8
5	आर्जवम्	Ārjavam	Uprightness / Simplicity	Gita Verse 13.8
6	आचार्योपासनम्	Āchārya-upāsanam	Service of the Guru / Teacher	Gita Verse 13.8
7	शौचम्	Śhaucham	Purity of body and mind (Shaucha)	Gita Verse 13.8
8	स्थैर्यम्	Sthairya	Steadfastness	Gita Verse 13.8
9	आत्मविनिग्रहः	Ātma-vinigrahaḥ	Self-control	Gita Verse 13.8
10	इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यम्	Vairāgyam	Dispassion (Vairagya)	Gita Verse 13.9
11	अनहङ्कारः	Anahankāraḥ	Absence of egotism	Gita Verse 13.9
12	जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखदोषानुदर्शनम्	Janma-mṛityu-jarā-vyādhi-duḥkha-doṣhānudarśhanam	Perception of the evil in birth, death, old age, sickness, and pain	Gita Verse 13.9
13	असक्तिः	Asaktiḥ	Non-attachment	Gita Verse 13.10
14	अनभिष्वङ्गः	Anabhiṣhvaṅgaḥ	Absence of craving / non-identification (son, wife, home, etc.)	Gita Verse 13.10
15	समचित्तत्वम्	Sama-chittatvam	Constant even-mindedness	Gita Verse 13.10
16	अनन्ययोगेन भक्ितरव्यभिचारिणी	Bhakti avyabhichāriṇī	Unswerving and constant devotion to God	Gita Verse 13.11
17	विविक्तदेशसेवित्वम्	Vivikta-deśha-sevitvam	Inclination for solitary places	Gita Verse 13.11
18	अरतिर्जनसंसदि	Aratir jana-sansadi	Distaste for mundane society	Gita Verse 13.11
19	अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वम्	Adhyātma-jñāna-nityatvam	Constancy in Self-knowledge	Gita Verse 13.12
20	तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्	Tattva-jñānārtha-darśhanam	Perception of the end of true knowledge / philosophical pursuit	Gita Verse 13.12

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See also:

• Divine Qualities
• Gita Chapter 13