The Sanskrit word “tejasvī” (तेजस्वी) comes from “tejas” (तेज), meaning radiance, brilliance, energy, or inner fire. In English, it conveys spiritedness, vigour, enthusiasm and luminous strength – not just physical, but also intellectual and spiritual. A tejasvī person is dynamic, courageous, enlightened and exudes an aura of inspiration.
For a tejasvī, spiritedness is the fire of life. A spirited person carries tejas, an inner flame that burns away doubt, fear and mediocrity. This fire is not burning recklessly uncontrolled, but rather is a focused energy, propelling one forward with passion and purpose. The spirited person radiates energy that uplifts others. Their presence inspires action in those around them. Their fire is more like the sun’s rays that provides for life on Earth, and gives life.
So, being tejasvī is not about uncontrolled intensity but about harnessing passion with wisdom. Like a controlled flame, it must be directed towards constructive pursuits, including creativity, leadership and self-improvement. In leadership, being spirited includes standing unwaveringly in the face of adversity. A tejasvī mind sees obstacles as stepping stones, and as a means for self-improvement, and does not waver under pressure. Courage and tenacity, but also creativity in leadership, are characteristics of a spirited person.
In the spiritual sense, true spiritedness is not just external boldness but also projecting your internal illumination, that is to show a radiance of wisdom. The Bhagavad Gita speaks of tejas (divine radiance) as one of the qualities of the wise, indicating that spiritedness and being enlightened go hand in hand. In Bhagavad Gita 16.3, Shri Krishna describes tejas as one of the divine qualities: “Vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from malice, absence of haughtiness—these, O scion of the Bharatas(1) , are (the qualities) of one born destined to have the divine nature.” Tejas here is not just strength, but an inner radiance that empowers others, stands resilient in hardship, and shines with wisdom.
The “scion of the Bharatas” refers to Arjuna, who as a central character in the Mahabharata(2). He is a mighty warrior and devoted disciple of Shri Krishna, playing a key role in and a hero of the Kurukshetra War. Shrii Shrii Anandamurti in the discourse “Dhritarastra and Sanjaya” (17 January 1980, Calcutta) also mentions that: “The word “Arjuna” stands for tejastattva. When this principle, this energy, this power – the dormant power hidden within – is properly utilized for a good purpose, a human being attains godhood.”
Going back further, the Rig Veda (1.97.1) also refers to the fire of tejas. Agni (fire) is praised as the source of tejas or spiritedness. This fire in the passage from the Rig Veda is spiritual strength, so: “Agniṁ duvasyāma, havya-vāhanaṁ, yajasva devān, rājātvam śrīyataṁ”. That is: “We adore Agni, the divine fire, the carrier of our offerings; let him lead us to greatness, to radiance, and to rulership of self.” Tejas is like agni (fire) – it burns away weakness, fuels or inspires you internally, and illuminates the world with wisdom.
The idea of tejas being spiritedness and wisdom is also found in the Upanishads. The Taittiriya Upanishad (Shikshavalli, 1.11.2) presents a sacred invocation: “Tejasvināvadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahai”. “May our learning be filled with tejas (brilliance), and may we never hate one another.” Here, Tejas is a divine energy that enhances intellect, dispels ignorance, and fosters unity.
We cannot, of course, forget playfulness and joy as expressions of life. A tejasvī person does not just work hard but lives with joyful intensity. Accordingly, great spiritedness is seen in those who laugh heartily, embrace challenges playfully, and pour passion into what they do.
To cultivate spiritedness (tejasvī bhāva) is to awaken the fire within. But it takes effort to keep the fir alit, to live with passion, wisdom, and sense of joy. This also involves determination to break down social barriers, and to be inspiring for others. With this spirit of spiritedness, one’s inspiration can also ignite the same spirit others. History is full of such beacon of inspiration. History remembers those who lived with vigour, radiance and courage – from warriors to philosophers, from workers to mercantilists, from saints to revolutionaries. Their inner fire continues to illuminate the world long after they are gone. Be tejasvī, be unstoppable, be the light.
Footnotes
(1) The phrase “O scion of the Bharatas” refers to Arjuna, a staunch disciple of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. The “Bharatas” refers to the descendants of King Bharata, an ancient and revered ruler of India, from whom the Kuru dynasty (to which Arjuna belongs) traced its lineage. This term honours Arjuna’s noble heritage and reminds him of the great responsibility he carries as a warrior of righteousness (dharma).
(2) The Mahabharata is a great epic poem of ancient India, written in Sanskrit. It is attributed to the sage Vyasa and is considered the longest epic in world literature, containing over 100,000 verses. It is not just a story of war but a profound spiritual, philosophical and historical text that explores themes of dharma (duty), karma (action and consequence), righteousness, and the struggle between good and evil.
