Glossary
Characters, places, and vocabulary from the Bhagavad Gita
A commentator referenced for his explanation of the symbolism of the Ashwattha tree.
Arjuna is a principal Pandava prince and the main hero of the Bhagavad Geeta, addressed by many e...
A ruler among the ancestors (Pitris).
Another ancient king mentioned as an exemplar of attaining perfection through right action.
The twin horsemen, divine beings associated with healing and service, seen in the Universal Form.
Son of Drona, a formidable warrior on the Kaurava side.
One of the Pandava brothers, known for his immense strength and valor.
Bhishma is the grandsire of both Pandavas and Kauravas, a revered elder and commander of the Kaur...
One of the Seven great Rishis, regarded as a chief sage in Hindu tradition.
Brahma is the Creator god in Hinduism, depicted as the Lord of Creation and source of all action ...
A notable warrior in the Pandava army.
A Gandharva, known as the chief among celestial musicians.
Referenced as Lord Christ, he is used as a comparative figure to illustrate spiritual truths.
A warrior allied with the Pandavas.
The blind old king of the Kauravas, father of Duryodhana, who asks Sanjaya to narrate the events ...
Wife of the Pandavas, whose sons fight in the war.
The teacher of both Pandavas and Kauravas and a key commander in the Kaurava army.
King of Panchala, father of Draupadi and Dhristadyumna, and an ally of the Pandavas.
The eldest son of Dhritarashtra and leader of the Kauravas, depicted as a tyrant and the main ant...
The monkey-god, whose symbol is Arjuna's chariot ensign.
The ancestor of the Solar-dynasty, who received the knowledge from Manu.
The king of the gods and ruler of heaven, also referred to as Vasava.
A wise king cited as an example of one who attained perfection through action (Karma Yoga).
A warrior chief allied with the Kauravas, mentioned among those already doomed.
A Muni and the founder of the Sankhya philosophy, recognized as a perfected thinker.
A great warrior and ally of the Kauravas.
Refers to the king of Kashi, an archer allied with the Pandavas.
A teacher and warrior fighting for the Kauravas.
The Supreme Being and charioteer of Arjuna, also known by his clan name Vrishni and as the slayer...
The lord of wealth, associated with Yakshas and Rakshasas.
A character from Lanka, symbolic of a Tamasic 'doer,' known for sleeping six months and eating th...
The mother of Arjuna and the Pandavas, also known as Pritha.
A king allied with the Pandavas.
Referenced as a realized sage in the context of spiritual perfection.
The ancient law-giver of India, son of Vivasvan, who received the knowledge of Yoga from his father.
Cited as one of the great prophets who realized and lived in the Self.
A term for a sage or silent wise man, used to describe the realized person.
One of the Pandava twins, renowned for his skills.
A Deva-Rishi, renowned as a celestial sage and devotee, known for his wisdom and missionary zeal.
A Daitya prince celebrated for his unwavering devotion to Vishnu despite persecution by his father.
The Creator deity in Hindu cosmology, said to have created mankind and sacrifice together.
A commander in the Pandava army.
Mentioned as an example of a divine incarnation or sage who realized the Self.
A Hindu saint referenced for his teachings on the consequences of sin.
The other Pandava twin, skilled in warfare.
Dhritarashtra's minister and charioteer, granted divine vision by Vyasa to narrate the events of ...
A hero, charioteer, and commander in the Pandava army, also known as Yuyudhana.
A commander in the Pandava army, instrumental in Bhishma's fall.
The Annihilator and part of the divine trinity, also called Isham, seen in the Cosmic Form.
A renowned Advaita Vedanta philosopher and commentator on the Bhagavad Gita.
Father of Bhurishrava, a warrior in the Kaurava army.
Mother of Abhimanyu, Arjuna's wife.
A great seer and preceptor of the Daityas, sometimes identified as Shukra.
A brave commander in the Pandava army.
The king of birds and vehicle of Vishnu, also known as Vainateya.
Vedic deity governing the waters and oceans.
A serpent king, used as the churning rope in the myth of the milky ocean.
A Kaurava prince and brother of Duryodhana.
A king allied with the Pandavas, commander in their army.
One of the twelve Adityas, a principal deity representing preservation.
The Sun-god, to whom Krishna says he first imparted the ancient Yoga at the beginning of creation.
The mythical Lord of Death and controller of life and death.
A strong warrior in the Pandava army.
Eldest of the Pandava brothers, known for his righteousness.
Respected teachers or preceptors in Indian philosophical traditions.
A Sanskrit term meaning 'ere long' or 'soon,' indicating the quick attainment of the goal.
Refers to the physical elements or the world of objects.
The perishable elements or the world of matter and phenomena.
Pertains to the divine or the gods, often associated with the sense-organs.
The Indweller or presiding deity/faculty over the sense organs and mind.
Relates to sacrifice, particularly the principle presiding over all sacrifices or perceptions.
The principle of sacrifice or the Self as the presiding factor in all acts of offering.
The essential Self or the principle of Self-knowledge within an individual.
Solar deities, sons of Aditi, referenced as part of the cosmic vision.
A group of solar deities, traditionally twelve in number.
A non-dualistic school of Vedanta philosophy that teaches the oneness of Atman and Brahman.
Followers of Advaita Vedanta, the non-dualistic school of Indian philosophy.
Scriptural texts in Hinduism that provide instructions on rituals, temple construction, and philo...
The divine white elephant, mount of Indra.
Sanskrit for 'ether' or 'space,' considered one of the five great elements in Indian philosophy.
That which is not the Self; the non-self or material aspect.
An ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, politics, and economics.
Refers to the ancient Indo-Aryan culture and people.
The cultural and spiritual heritage of the ancient Aryans.
A physical posture or seat, especially for meditation.
The eight Vasus, elemental deities presiding over Time.
The Ashwattha is the sacred fig tree (Ficus Religiosa), used as an allegory for the Tree-of-life ...
Asuras are a class of powerful beings or demons opposed to the gods, representing demonic or devi...
An ancient city in India, historically ruled by the Solar-dynasty.
A sacred Himalayan location associated with Vyasa and spiritual practice.
The Bhagavad Geeta is a sacred Hindu scripture, part of the Mahabharata, consisting of a dialogue...
A term referring to the descendants of King Bharata, often used for Arjuna and his kin.
Elemental spirits or the five great elements in Indian cosmology.
The highest realm of existence, associated with Brahma and supreme joy, as per Hindu cosmology.
The highest realm or world of Brahma, the Creator, attainable by souls through ritual and meditat...
Brahman is the ultimate, all-pervading, unchanging reality or God-principle in Vedanta philosophy.
Brahmana (or Brahmin) refers to a member of the priestly class in the traditional Hindu caste sys...
Knowledge of Brahman, the Supreme Reality.
Sacrifice offered to Brahman, or the pursuit of spiritual knowledge.
The state of being established in Brahman, or Self-realization.
The spiritual teacher of the gods, associated with the planet Jupiter.
Here, refers to an enlightened being or sage, not specifically Gautama Buddha.
A principal Upanishad, part of the Sama-Veda, known for its philosophical teachings.
A school of ancient Indian materialist and atheist philosophy, emphasizing direct perception and ...
A class of demons, descendants of Diti.
A race of demons, sons of Danu, often opposing the Devas.
The gods or divine forces in Hindu cosmology, representing various aspects of the universal power.
A deity or divine force invoked in worship or ritual.
Sacrifice offered to the gods.
Sacrifice involving material offerings.
Celestial musicians in Hindu mythology, present in the Universal Form.
Celestial musicians and singers.
A sacred river in India, often associated with spiritual purification and meditation.
A sacred Vedic metre and mantra, highly revered in Hindu tradition.
The village associated with Krishna's childhood.
The cowherd maidens of Vrindavana, devotees of Krishna.
An ancient Hindu legal and ethical text, quoted by Shankara in his commentary.
The capital city of the Kauravas and Pandavas.
The great mountain range in northern India, revered as sacred.
Pertaining to the religious, cultural, and philosophical traditions of India.
The major Indian religious tradition, whose philosophy and practices are discussed in the Gita.
Followers of Hinduism, the religious tradition to which the Gita belongs.
Sacred texts of Hinduism, including the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Geeta.
The 'cosmic womb' or golden egg, representing the source of creation.
The country of origin for the Bhagavad Gita and the philosophical schools discussed.
A principal Upanishad emphasizing the pervasiveness of the Divine.
A Sanskrit term meaning the world or the universe, especially as experienced through the senses, ...
A type of argument aimed at defeating an opponent.
A term from ancient Hindu cosmology referring to the central continent of the world.
A river in India, also known as Yamuna, associated with Krishna's pastimes.
The individual soul or embodied self, distinct from the Supreme Self.
Jnana Yoga is the path of knowledge, focusing on the realization of the Self through wisdom, disc...
A mythological cow said to grant all desires, referenced as a symbol of infinite potential.
The mythological wish-fulfilling cow, also called Kamadhenu, symbolizing abundance.
The system of yoga and philosophy attributed to sage Kapila, focusing on the three gunas.
The ritualistic portion of the Vedas, focused on prescribed actions and rituals.
Karma Yoga is the path of selfless action, performing one's duties without attachment to results ...
An Upanishad referenced for its allegorical use of the Peepal-tree.
The dynasty of Dhritarashtra's sons, opposed to the Pandavas.
The sons of Dhritarashtra, antagonists in the Mahabharata.
The immutable, imperishable Self that remains unchanged amidst change.
A reference to the Kuru dynasty, to which Arjuna belongs.
The holy battlefield where the Mahabharata war takes place.
The ruling dynasty of the Mahabharata era, including both Pandavas and Kauravas.
A type of sacred grass traditionally used in Vedic rituals and for meditation seats.
The kingdom ruled by Ravana in the Ramayana, referenced here for its characters.
A Sanskrit term meaning 'welfare of the world', used to describe selfless action for the greater ...
The great Indian epic that contains the Bhagavad Geeta.
A title meaning 'Great Lord,' often referring to the Supreme Being or Shiva.
Chief among the Maruts, wind deities.
Storm deities, part of the divine hosts seen in the Universal Form.
Storm deities, sons of Rudra.
A mythological mountain considered the center of the universe in Hindu cosmology.
The primordial, unmanifested matter or root nature in Sankhya philosophy.
A personification of India as a nurturing mother, symbolizing the nation's productive potential.
One of the principal Upanishads, known for its teachings on knowledge and liberation.
The lunar asterisms or constellations in Indian astronomy.
The sacred syllable 'Om,' symbolizing the Absolute and the essence of the Vedas.
The Pandavas are the five sons of Pandu, protagonists in the Mahabharata.
Father of the Pandavas, the five brothers who are central to the Mahabharata.
The Supreme Self or Universal Spirit in Vedanta.
The Supreme Lord, the ultimate reality underlying all existence.
Sanskrit for 'Supreme Peace,' the ultimate goal described in the Gita.
A term for an outcaste or someone of low social status in traditional Indian society.
A classical text on Yoga philosophy, outlining the eightfold path of Yoga.
Relating to the Puranas, ancient Hindu texts that elaborate on mythology and philosophy.
The ancestral spirits revered in Hindu rituals.
The ancestors; refers to the realm or world of the departed ancestors in Hindu belief.
An Upanishadic text that discusses philosophical questions about creation and the nature of reality.
The collective term for the three foundational texts of Vedanta: the Upanishads, Brahmasutra, and...
Ancient Hindu texts containing mythological stories, traditions, and teachings.
A term for the cosmic spirit or Self; used here for both the perishable and imperishable principles.
A hymn from the Rig Veda describing the cosmic being, Purusha.
The Supreme Spirit, the highest Self, transcending both the perishable and imperishable.
Mythical beings, often depicted as demons.
One of the oldest Hindu scriptures, containing hymns and philosophical teachings.
The oldest of the four Vedas, consisting mainly of hymns.
A sage or seer, often referenced as witnessing or praising the Universal Form.
Ancient Hindu sages and seers.
Ancient sages or seers who composed the hymns and philosophical texts of Hinduism.
A true spiritual teacher or enlightened master.
A state of deep meditative absorption or superconsciousness.
One of the four Vedas, distinguished by its musical chants.
A term meaning 'eternal law', referring to the eternal and universal principles of Hinduism.
A traditional epilogue or concluding statement marking the end of a chapter in Hindu scriptures.
Sankhya is a classical Indian philosophical system explaining reality through dual principles of ...
The path of knowledge and discrimination as taught in the Sankhya philosophy.
A Sanskrit epithet meaning 'Great Lord of all worlds,' used for the Supreme Self in the Gita.
The Sun, especially as invoked in the Gayatri mantra.
Adi Shankaracharya, a renowned Vedantic philosopher and commentator.
Shastra refers to scriptural texts or treatises in Hindu tradition, providing authoritative teach...
A revered Purana that narrates the life and teachings of Krishna.
A perfected being, spiritually advanced and present in the cosmic vision.
Perfected beings or accomplished sages.
A royal lineage in ancient India, said to descend from the Sun-god.
A ritual drink used in Vedic sacrifices, also personified as a deity.
Sacrifice in the form of scriptural study.
Sacrifice in the form of austerity or penance.
A knower of the Reality or Truth, an epithet for the wise or enlightened person.
The 'fourth' state of consciousness described in the Upanishads, beyond waking, dreaming, and dee...
The Upanishads are ancient Hindu philosophical texts exploring spiritual knowledge and the nature...
A devotee or worshipper, especially one engaged in spiritual practice.
A class of ancestral spirits or beings associated with ritual offerings.
A logical, truth-seeking form of argument or debate.
The term for caste or class in Hindu society, based on individual temperament and duties.
Elemental deities representing natural forces, included in the Universal Form.
Eight Vedic deities associated with natural phenomena.
Vedanta is a major school of Hindu philosophy based on the teachings of the Upanishads, with foll...
Pertaining to the Vedas, the ancient sacred texts of Hinduism.
The 'Heaven of the Heroes', a celestial realm attained by those who die heroically in battle.
Divine manifestations or glories of the Lord.
A term meaning 'facing all directions,' indicating omnipresence.
The Universal Form of the Lord, as revealed to Arjuna in this chapter.
A group of universal deities in Vedic tradition.
A type of argument focused on refuting the opponent without establishing one's own position.
A town associated with Krishna's early life and divine play.
The lineage or clan to which Krishna belongs.
A clan or tribe descended from Vrishni, to which Krishna belonged.
Vyasa, also known as Veda Vyasa, is the sage who composed the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita a...
A term referring to Krishna's clan or lineage.
A dynasty or clan to which Krishna belonged.
Nature spirits or guardians of wealth, included among the beings witnessing the vision.
Nature spirits associated with wealth and treasures.
A spiritual discipline or path, especially as systematized in the Gita.
A state of yogic integration or realization.
The science or scripture of Yoga, outlining its philosophy and practice.
Sacrifice in the form of spiritual discipline or Yoga.
Epochs or ages in Hindu cosmology, used to measure vast periods of time.
Indolence or laziness.
Beginning; the start of an undertaking or action.
Health or freedom from disease.
Vitality or longevity.
Fearlessness; the absence of fear, considered a divine quality.
Self-conceit; excessive pride in oneself.
The Yoga of constant practice; repeated effort to steady the mind.
Absence of fickleness; steadiness and restraint in physical movements.
Immovable; that which does not move or change position.
Right conduct; proper behavior in accordance with dharma.
A respected teacher or preceptor, especially in spiritual or scriptural matters.
Unthinkable or inconceivable; beyond the capacity of thought.
Unrighteousness; actions or qualities contrary to Dharma.
Unrighteousness; actions or thoughts contrary to one's essential divine nature.
Seat; the body as the basis of action.
Mind absorbed in the Self; spiritual consciousness.
Absence of hatred; non-injury and goodwill towards all.
Fire, both as an element and as the Vedic fire deity.
Egoism; the sense of individuality.
The ego principle, the sense of individuality.
Non-violence; harmlessness towards all beings in thought, word, and action.
Unborn; a term for the eternal, birthless reality.
Ignorance; lack of spiritual knowledge or awareness.
Clarified butter (ghee) used as an offering in rituals.
Freed from taint or impurity.
Absence of anger; maintaining an even temper and self-control.
The imperishable; that which does not perish or decay.
Non-covetousness; freedom from greed and desire for others' possessions.
State of immortality or deathlessness.
Impure or unclean, especially in the context of food.
Undivided or single-pointed (as in devotion).
Free from dependence; not relying on external objects or circumstances.
One who is free from malice.
Without cavilling or fault-finding; accepting teachings without negative criticism.
The indefinable; that which cannot be defined or described.
Without a Lord; denial of a supreme governing principle or God.
Food; that which nourishes living beings.
The inner instrument; the mind-intellect complex.
The inner instrument; the mind-intellect equipment.
According to or in conformity with (one's nature).
Absence of malice; refraining from slander or malicious speech.
The vital force responsible for excretion and downward movement in the body.
Non-possessiveness; freedom from hoarding or attachment to possessions.
Uprightness; honesty and straightforwardness in thought, word, and deed.
A seeker who desires to ascend the path of Yoga.
Non-existence or the unreal; also, the effect.
Untruth; falsehood or lack of adherence to truth.
Unsteady; not firm.
Felons or aggressors deserving punishment according to ancient law.
Beyond the senses.
Vision or realization of the Self.
Atman is the individual Self or soul, the innermost essence of a being, also referred to as the S...
One who is poised in the Self.
Awakening or knowledge; often denotes spiritual realisation.
Veiling or obscuration, caused by Tamas, which hides the Self.
The veiling power of Maya, which obscures the Self.
Divine incarnation; the descent of God into a physical form.
Avidya is ignorance, particularly of the true nature of the Self.
Avyakta is the unmanifested; that which is not yet manifest as name and form.
Strength, both physical and spiritual.
Strength or might, especially when devoid of desire and attachment.
Bondage; the state of being bound by ignorance or attachment.
The imperishable seed; the unchanging source of all.
Endowed with loving consciousness or attitude.
Devotional worship or contemplation, especially of the Self.
Devotion; loving worship or surrender to the Divine.
The path of devotion as a means to spiritual realization.
Supporter or sustainer.
Fear.
The enjoyer; the one who experiences pleasure and pain.
The sense of enjoyership.
One who has realized or become identified with Brahman.
One who has become Brahman; Self-realised.
Celibacy or self-control, especially in relation to sense impulses.
A mental modification taking the form of Brahman; continuous contemplation of the Absolute.
The science or knowledge of Brahman, the ultimate reality.
Intellect or discriminative faculty.
The yoga of wisdom or devotion through the intellect; acting with a steady, discriminative mind.
Restless; unsteady.
Function; activity or effort.
Consciousness or awareness.
Charity or alms-giving; the act of giving to others selflessly.
Divine; pertaining to godly or virtuous qualities.
Alert; efficient and skillful in action.
A gift or offering, often given to priests or teachers as part of a ritual.
Control of the senses; self-restraint in relation to sensory pleasures.
Hypocrisy or ostentation; pretension of virtue without sincerity.
Arrogance; pride and haughtiness.
The 'Path of the gods'; the route taken by souls who attain gradual liberation.
Righteousness, duty, or the moral law governing individual conduct.
One whose nature is righteousness or who is established in dharma.
One who is firm in vows or resolute.
Fortitude; perseverance and steadfastness in the face of challenges.
Eternal; that which is constant and unchanging over time.
Meditation; focused contemplation on a spiritual object or truth.
The path of meditation, leading to steady contemplation and realization of the Self.
Material substance or wealth.
Aversion or hatred.
Followers of the Dvaita (dualistic) school of Vedanta philosophy.
Pairs of opposites, such as pleasure and pain, success and failure.
Literally 'twice-born,' referring to those who have undergone a spiritual initiation, especially ...
Single-pointed devotion; unwavering focus on the Divine.
Alone; solitary.
Goal or destination.
The gunas are the three fundamental qualities—Sattwa (purity), Rajas (activity), and Tamas (inert...
Oblation or offering made into the sacred fire.
That which is beyond the range of the sense organs.
The sense-organs or faculties of perception and action.
The Lord or Supreme Controller, often referring to God as the ruler of the universe.
Vision or realization of the Lord.
Repetition of a mantra as a spiritual practice.
The desire to know or inquire.
Jiva is the individual soul or embodied self, subject to birth and death.
Knowledge; especially spiritual or higher knowledge.
Knowledge, especially spiritual wisdom or discrimination.
That which is to be reached by knowledge.
Austerity or discipline of knowledge.
Jnana Yajna is the 'sacrifice of wisdom,' referring to the study, pursuit, and dissemination of s...
Men of knowledge; scholars or philosophers.
That which is to be known.
Mental fever; agitation or anxiety.
The wheel of time; the cyclical nature of creation and destruction.
Desire, especially for what is not present.
Desire-motivated actions.
Instrument or means of action.
Karma refers to action or deed and its resulting effects, embodying the law of cause and effect g...
Impulse to action.
The fruits or results of actions.
The Yoga of renunciation of action, involving giving up the sense of doership.
Basis or assembly of action.
Men of action; those who perform works or rituals.
Doer or agent of action.
The sense of doership.
Effect or result, especially of action.
A seer or poet, especially one with spiritual insight.
Singing or chanting the glories of the Divine.
The immutable, changeless Self; literally 'anvil-like'.
Gradual liberation; the doctrine that souls may attain liberation in stages.
A Vedic ritual or sacrifice.
Anger; intense displeasure or wrath.
Forgiveness; patience and the ability to forgive others.
The perishable aspect of reality; that which is subject to change.
The warrior or ruler class in the varna system.
The warrior and ruling class in the traditional Hindu social order.
Material and physical well-being or security.
The Field; refers to the body or the realm of matter.
The Knower-of-the-Field; the conscious principle that knows the Field.
The specific duties and traditions of a family.
The retention or holding of breath in pranayama.
The changeless substratum; the unchanging Self.
A world or realm of experience.
Among My devotees.
Great warriors capable of fighting multiple opponents, often commanding large divisions.
The cosmic intellect, the first principle of creation in Sankhya philosophy.
A 'great saying' from the Upanishads, expressing the identity of the individual Self with the Abs...
Take refuge in Me alone.
The essential duty or law of human beings, emphasizing their divine nature.
A sacred utterance, sound, or phrase used in spiritual practice.
Opinion or doctrine, especially in a religious or philosophical context.
One whose mind is wholly absorbed in the Lord.
The cosmic illusion that veils the true nature of reality.
Spiritual liberation or Self-realization, the ultimate goal in Hindu philosophy.
Liberation; freedom from bondage.
Silence; both external and internal quietude.
A liberated soul, free from bondage.
A sage or contemplative, one who reflects deeply.
Absence of over-pride; humility and lack of excessive self-importance.
Many-hooded serpents in Hindu mythology.
Occasional duties, performed on special occasions.
Actionlessness; the state of being free from the sense of doership.
The state of perfection in actionlessness.
Sleep; also used philosophically as non-apprehension of Reality.
Free from hope or expectation.
Without attributes or qualities; refers to worship of the formless absolute.
Without attributes or conditioning; the unconditioned Absolute.
Liberation; the state of ultimate freedom from suffering.
A state of samadhi where all distinctions and dualities are transcended.
Forbidden actions, prohibited by the scriptures.
Without desire; acting without selfish motives.
Steadfastness or firm resolve, especially in spiritual practice.
Daily obligatory duties.
Abode or dwelling place.
Withdrawal or renunciation from worldly pursuits.
Obligatory or prescribed (as in obligatory action).
Obligatory or prescribed duty, actions one is bound to perform.
The primordial sound and symbol of the Absolute.
The sacred syllable symbolizing the Absolute, Brahman.
A triple designation of Brahman, symbolizing the Absolute, the Universal Truth, and Existence.
Sin; negative actions that create impurity and suffering.
The Supreme Self, the universal consciousness underlying all beings.
The knower; the subject or experiencer.
Harshness; roughness or cruelty in speech or action.
The 'Path of the ancestors'; the route taken by souls who return to rebirth after enjoying heaven...
Lord or master.
Subsidiary texts; explanatory treatises that clarify scriptural teachings.
Nature or the fundamental creative energy, consisting of the three gunas.
Dissolution; the period when the manifest world returns to an unmanifest state.
Heedlessness or carelessness.
Prana is the vital energy or life-force that sustains the body and its functions.
Control of the breath, a yogic discipline.
The portion of past karma that is responsible for the present birth and circumstances.
Prasada refers to mental peace, tranquility, or clarity resulting from self-control and purity of...
One with a tranquil or serene mind.
Serene or peaceful.
Withdrawal of the senses from their objects, a yogic practice.
Action or engagement in worldly pursuits.
Joy or affection.
Ghosts or spirits of the dead, invoked by tamasic individuals.
Merit; positive or virtuous actions that purify the mind.
The inhalation phase in pranayama.
The spiritual principle or pure consciousness that enlivens matter.
Deliberate, conscious effort or action; also refers to the four aims of human life.
The Supreme Purusha, or highest Self.
Attachment or affection for what one already possesses.
In solitude or secrecy.
The quality of activity, passion, and restlessness.
Passionate; relating to the guna of activity, desire, and restlessness.
Incorrigibly indifferent; a type of being characterized by ignorance and inertia.
The exhalation phase in pranayama.
A spiritual aspirant or practitioner striving for realization.
Spiritual practice or discipline undertaken to achieve a goal.
The goal or that which is to be achieved.
With attributes or qualities; refers to worship of God with form.
Witness; the observing consciousness.
The witness-attitude; observing one's actions and thoughts with detachment.
The Sama Veda, or its chants.
One who sees with equal vision; a sage who perceives the same Self in all beings.
The macrocosm, or the totality of creation.
Equanimity or mental evenness, a key quality in spiritual realization.
Aggregate; the assemblage of body and its components.
A renunciate; one who has given up worldly attachments and desires.
Samsara is the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth governed by karma.
An individual bound by samsara, the cycle of birth and death.
Beings caught in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara).
The doubting self; one who is afflicted by doubt.
Mental impressions or conditioning formed by past actions.
A resolve or intention, often recited as a formal statement in rituals.
Sannyasa is the path or state of renunciation, involving giving up worldly attachments, ego, and ...
With all one's being.
Lord of all worlds; the Supreme Self ruling over all fields of experience.
All-pervading; existing everywhere.
All-knower; one who knows everything.
Association with the wise or with spiritual company.
The quality of purity, harmony, and balance.
Of the quality of sattva; pure, harmonious, and balanced.
Truth; adherence to truthfulness and honesty.
With attributes or conditioning; the conditioned aspect of Brahman.
A state of samadhi where some duality or distinction remains.
Seva is selfless service, often performed as an act of devotion or for the welfare of others.
Austerity of the body, involving physical purity and discipline.
The Vedic word or ritualistic portion of the Vedas.
Quiescence or mental tranquillity; control of the mind.
Little by little; gradually.
Peaceful; the state of absolute peace.
One whose passions (rajas) are quietened.
Peacefulness; inner tranquility and calmness.
Refuge or shelter.
Purity; cleanliness of body, mind, and environment.
Shraddha is faith or conviction, considered the guiding force behind actions and spiritual progress.
One who possesses faith.
The highest good; that which leads to ultimate well-being and liberation.
That which is yet to be heard; future knowledge or experiences.
That which has been heard; scriptural or traditional knowledge.
Pure; clean in body, mind, and surroundings.
The servant or laborer class in the varna system.
The laborer and service class in the traditional Hindu social order.
Steady or firm, especially in posture.
One of steady wisdom; a person established in Self-knowledge.
Women; also used to indicate a feminine or emotional mind.
Friend or well-wisher.
Happiness or pleasure.
Study of the scriptures; self-study or recitation of sacred texts.
Swabhava is one's own nature or inherent disposition, determining character and actions.
One's own duty or personal call-of-character, according to one's nature and position.
Self-study, especially of scriptures.
Dream; also refers to the state of conscious experience.
The quality of inertia, darkness, and ignorance.
Dull; relating to the guna of inertia, ignorance, and darkness.
Austerity or self-discipline.
One who practices austerity or self-discipline.
Ascetics; those who practice austerities.
That; used to indicate the universal truth or the ultimate reality.
Devoted to or intent on (the spiritual goal).
Principles or elements; fundamental categories in Sankhya philosophy.
In reality or in essence.
Vigour; spiritual brilliance or inner radiance.
The triad of knower, known, and knowledge.
Another spelling of Tyaga, denoting abandonment.
Renunciation; the spirit of letting go of attachments and desires.
Refuse or leftover food.
Unconcerned; maintaining indifference to minor disturbances.
Withdrawal or cessation from worldly activities; inner quietude.
Upasana is devotional worship or meditative contemplation, especially on a chosen ideal or deity.
The object of concentration or worship in spiritual practice.
Dispassion; detachment from sense objects.
Dispassion or detachment from sense objects.
The digestive fire; the aspect of the Divine that digests food in living beings.
The merchant and agricultural class in the traditional Hindu social order.
The duties associated with one's class and stage of life.
Vasanas are mental impressions or tendencies formed by past actions and desires, driving future b...
The Vedas are the ancient sacred scriptures of Hinduism, regarded as the source of spiritual know...
Energy or vigour.
Knowledge, especially spiritual wisdom.
Direct experiential knowledge or realisation.
Mental agitation or distraction, caused by Rajas.
The projecting power of Maya, which creates the appearance of the world.
The totality of experience; the universe as perceived through body, mind, and intellect.
Discrimination or discernment, especially between the real and the unreal.
A mental modification or thought-wave.
Vyakta is the manifest; that which is perceptible to the senses.
The microcosm, or the individual being.
A unit of time, traditionally three hours; used in the context of food freshness.
Yajna is sacrifice or ritual offering, often symbolizing selfless action and dedication in spirit...
A spiritual discipline or path aiming at union with the Divine or Self-realization.
One who has attained mastery in Yoga; established in meditation.
Practice of concentration; the discipline of steadying the mind in meditation.
A Yogi or Yogin is one who practices Yoga and seeks spiritual realization; Yogins are practitione...
Steadfast or integrated; united in Yoga.