Verso 17.1517.117.217.317.417.517.617.717.817.917.1017.1117.1217.1317.1417.1517.1617.1717.1817.1917.2017.2117.2217.2317.2417.2517.2617.2717.28

Speech which causes no excitement, truthful, pleasant and beneficial, the practice of the study of the Vedas, are called austerity of speech.

Speech that causes no distress, that is true, pleasant and beneficial, together with the regular practice of recitation and study, is called austerity of speech.

Austerity of speech is described as words that do not upset others, that are true, kind and helpful, together with the steady practice of reciting and studying sacred texts (svādhyāya). The verse sets a high standard: speech must be truthful and also pleasant and beneficial. Truth that wounds needlessly falls short, and so does pleasant speech that is false. Treating careful speech as a form of tapas shows how seriously the Gita takes words as actions with consequences.