Item 19 in Bhagavad Gita's Twenty-Six Divine Qualities

Modesty

Maintain moral modesty without turning it into imposed shame.

Position
19
Form
Mixed formulation
Obligation
Context-dependent
Wording status
Translation
Intended audience
Readers and practitioners cultivating disciplined and liberating character
Last reviewed
28 June 2027

Names and terminology

Canonical name: Hrī

Original term: Hrī

Transliteration: Hrī

Source wording

<p>Maintain moral modesty without turning it into imposed shame.</p><p><em>Editorial paraphrase; consult the linked source for full wording and context.</em></p>

Translation

Literal meaning

Maintain moral modesty without turning it into imposed shame.

Broader interpretation

Maintain moral modesty without turning it into imposed shame.

Historical context

This principle belongs to Bhagavad Gita's Twenty-Six Divine Qualities and must be read within that framework's setting.

Practical meaning

Maintain moral modesty without turning it into imposed shame.

Ethical purpose

Maintain moral modesty without turning it into imposed shame.

Exceptions and disputes

Translation and application vary; each quality should be applied with evidence, proportionality and attention to competing duties.

Variations across schools or traditions

Translations divide and render several Sanskrit terms differently; this catalogue follows the standard twenty-six-term enumeration.

Modern application

Maintain moral modesty without turning it into imposed shame. Modern application should consider consent, evidence, proportionality, power and consequences.

Criticism and difficult cases

Translation and application vary; each quality should be applied with evidence, proportionality and attention to competing duties.

Truth By Reason analysis

Maintain moral modesty without turning it into imposed shame. Application should preserve the ethical purpose while avoiding coercion, discrimination and preventable harm.

Ethical themes

  • Humility
  • Self-control

Sources