Item 5 in Bhagavad Gita's Twenty-Six Divine Qualities
Self-control
Regulate impulses rather than being ruled by them.
- Position
- 5
- 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: Dama
Original term: Dama
Transliteration: Dama
Source wording
<p>Regulate impulses rather than being ruled by them.</p><p><em>Editorial paraphrase; consult the linked source for full wording and context.</em></p>
Literal meaning
Regulate impulses rather than being ruled by them.
Broader interpretation
Regulate impulses rather than being ruled by them.
Historical context
This principle belongs to Bhagavad Gita's Twenty-Six Divine Qualities and must be read within that framework's setting.
Practical meaning
Regulate impulses rather than being ruled by them.
Ethical purpose
Regulate impulses rather than being ruled by them.
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
Regulate impulses rather than being ruled by them. 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
Regulate impulses rather than being ruled by them. Application should preserve the ethical purpose while avoiding coercion, discrimination and preventable harm.
Ethical themes
Sources
- Bhagavad Gita 16:1–3 — Divine Qualities Primary source