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Chapter 12 · Devotional Service · 20 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Character & ethicsChapter 12 · Devotional Service
12.1712.19

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 12.18

The qualities of a devotee dear to Krishna

Jīva · The soul

सम: शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयो: ।

शीतोष्णसुखदु:खेषु सम: सङ्गविवर्जित: ॥ १८ ॥

तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित् ।

अनिकेत: स्थिरमतिर्भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नर: ॥ १९ ॥

samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca

tathā mānāpamānayoḥ

śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu

samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ

tulya-nindā-stutir maunī

santuṣṭo yena kenacit

aniketaḥ sthira-matir

bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ

Translation

One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contaminating association, always silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn’t care for any residence, who is fixed in knowledge and who is engaged in devotional service – such a person is very dear to Me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

A Devotee’s Steady Heart

  1. 1

    A devotee who treats friends and enemies equally and stays steady in happiness and distress is very dear to Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that devotional service naturally helps a devotee develop these good qualities.

  3. 3

    Avoid bad association, speak about Kṛṣṇa rather than nonsense, and be satisfied in different conditions.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 12.18–19

Further qualities mentioned

19

Equal to friends and enemies

20

Equipoised in dualities

21

Always free from contaminating association

22

Silence — implies “to speak only of essentials”

Most essential speech – To speak of supreme lord

23

Satisfied — Happy in all conditions – Sometimes get palatable food and sometimes not

24

Does not care for any residence

25

Fixed in — Determination and knowledge

26

Engaged in devotional service

a

Practical application — Krishna consciousness and good qualifications

One who wants to be recognized as devotee should develop all good qualifications

Ofcourse one does not extraneously endeavor to acquire these qualifications because engagement in Krishna consciousness and devotional service automatically helps one develop them

One who is not a devotee has no good qualifications SUMMARISED THEME 12B QUALITIES OF PURE DEVOTEES (2.13-12.19):

Classified summary of qualities that endear one to Krishna A) Attitude towards one self

‘Nirmama’ – Free from sense of proprietorship

Free from false-ego : Knows that “I am not the body”

‘Gata-vyathah’ (Painfree)

‘Sarvarambha Parityagi’ (Free from all endeavors) B) Dealings with other living entities

‘Non-envious’ – Kind to everyone even to his enemy

Equal to friends and enemies

‘Udasina’ (without cares)

Always free from contaminating association

Silence C) Reaction when things happen to him –

Satisfied

Self-controlled/Completely perfect mystic

Tolerant

Equipoised in happiness and distress

Anapeksah (Neutral)

Sucih (pure)

Daksa (expert)

Neither rejoices nor grieves over material gain or loss

Neither Laments Nor Desires

Transcendental in face of all kinds of auspicious, inauspicious and sinful acts

Equipoised in dualities

Does Not Care For Any Residence D) Dealings with the Lord

Determined

Mind and intelligence fixed entirely on the Supreme Lord

Engaged in devotional service

Fixed

Further reading

Qualities That Endear One To Krishna

Possessing divine qualities makes one dear to Krishna

One who faithfully follows the path of devotional service, making Krishna the supreme goal is very dear to Him

Chapter 12, section III: Qualities That Endear One To Krishna
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. samaḥequal
  2. śatrauto an enemy
  3. caalso
  4. mitreto a friend
  5. caalso
  6. tathāso
  7. mānain honor
  8. apamānayoḥand dishonor
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: daivī-sampat, dharma.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 12.18 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to character & ethics?

Practice

Choose one virtue to practice consciously today.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 12 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 12.13Qualities of a devotee dear to KrishnaBG 12.14The qualities of a devotee dear to KrishnaBG 16.21Lust, anger and greed lead toward degradation.
Live this todayFix Your Mind on KṛṣṇaA practice from BG 12.8, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction