शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च | ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यं ब्रह्मकर्म स्वभावजम्
śamo damastapaḥ śaucaṃ kṣāntirārjavameva ca . jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyaṃ brahmakarma svabhāvajam
婆羅門 (Brāhmaṇa) 的自然職責是：控制內外感官、苦行 (tapas)、純潔、寬恕、正直、知識以及智慧 [知識指對經典所呈現主題的理解；智慧指將其轉化為自身經驗。] 和信仰。
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.
「śamaḥ」是心意的控制。「damaḥ」是感官的控制。寧靜和自制已在第十七章第2節中解釋。三種苦行也已在第十七章第14至16節中解釋。「āstikyam」是對上師之言、經典教義、神的存在、來世以及自身自我 (Ātman) 的信仰。心意專注於自我，這帶來了平靜。自制是平靜的助手。只有遵循經典的誡命，你才能獲得平靜和靈性進步。你不可過度爭辯，必須對教義懷有敬意和信仰。正如檀香樹散發著自身甜美的芬芳，正如占婆花以其可愛的花朵裝飾自身，婆羅門也同樣被這九種與他不可分離的美德所裝飾。現在，喔，阿周那！請聽剎帝利 (Kṣatriya) 的職責。
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.