Bhagavad Gita Bhasya (Gambhirananada)

to have been classified according to the gunas.
Which, again, are those duties? They are being
spoken of:
18.42 The natural duties of the Brahmanas are the
control of the internal and external organs,
austerity, purity, forgiveness, straightforwardness,
knowledge as also wisdom [Knowledge refers to
the understanding of subjects presented by the
scriptures; wisdom means making them matters of
one's own experience.] and faith.
English Translation of Sri Sankaracharya's Sanskrit
Commentary - Swami Gambhirananda
18.42 Svabhavajam brahma-karma, the natural
duties of the Brhamanas, of the Brahmana caste;
are samah, control of the internal organs; damah,
control of the external organs-these bear the
meanings as explained earlier (see 6.3, 10.4, 16.1);
tapah, austerity-bodily austerity, as explained
before (17.14); saucam, purity, as already explained
(in 13.7, 16.3); ksantih, forgiveness; arjavam,
straightforwardness, simplicity; jnanam,
knowledge; eva ca, as also vijnanam, wisdom;
astikyam, faith, the idea of truth [Truth of the
scritpures, existence of God, etc. In place of astibhavah
Ast reads astika-bhavah, the feeling of
conviction with regard to the existence of God and
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