शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च | ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यं ब्रह्मकर्म स्वभावजम् ||१८-४२||
śamo damastapaḥ śaucaṃ kṣāntirārjavameva ca . jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyaṃ brahmakarma svabhāvajam ||18-42||
Chapter 18 · Verse 42
Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
मोक्षसंन्यासयोग
In plain words
Sama is control of the mind. Dama is control of the senses. Serenity and selfrestraint have already been explained in XVII.
Translation
18.42 Control of the senses and the mind, austerity, purity, forbearance, uprightness, knowledge, special knowledge, and faith - all these constitute the duty of Brahmana born of his inherent nature.
Meaning
Sama is control of the mind. Dama is control of the senses. Serenity and selfrestraint have already been explained in XVII.2. Austerity of the three kinds has also been explained in XVII.14 to 16. Astikyam Faith in the words of the Guru in the teachings of the scriptures in the existence of God in the life beyond or hereafter and in ones own Self. The mind is absorbed in the Self. This gives peace. Selfrestraint is the helpmate of peace. In obeying the inunctions of the scriptures alone you will attain peace and spiritual progress. You must not argue too much. You must have reverence for and faith in the teaching. As the sandalwood tree is fragrant with its own sweet scent as a Champaka tree is adorned by its lovely flowers so also a Brahmana is adorned by these nine virtues which are inseparable from him. Now. O Arjuna listen to the duties of a Kshatriya.
Word by word
शमः serenity दमः selfrestraint तपः austerity शौचम् purity क्षान्तिः forgiveness आर्जवम् uprightness एव even च and ज्ञानम् knowledge विज्ञानम् realisation आस्तिक्यम् belief in God ब्रह्मकर्म (are) the duties of Brahmanas स्वभावजम् born of nature.