Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 16: The Divine and the Demonic Natures

Bhagavad Gita 16.1

abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhirjñānayogavyavasthitiḥ | dānaṃ damaśca yajñaśca svādhyāyastapa ārjavam ||

Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, generosity, self-control, sacrifice, study of scripture, austerity, and honesty;

Modern context

The chapter opens with a list of twenty-six divine qualities. The very first is fearlessness. It is placed first for a reason. Fear is behind much that goes wrong in us: lying to avoid trouble, clinging to what we have, attacking before we are attacked. A person who is not ruled by fear is free to be honest, generous and kind. Many of the other qualities depend on it.