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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.32
आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन ।
सुखं वा यदि वा दु:खं स योगी परमो मत: ॥ ३२ ॥
ātmaupamyena sarvatra
samaṁ paśyati yo ’rjuna
sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ
sa yogī paramo mataḥ
He is a perfect yogī who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna!
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
A perfect yogī sees all beings as equal, understanding their happiness and distress by comparison with his own.
Prabhupāda explains that forgetting Kṛṣṇa brings distress, while knowing Him as the supreme enjoyer, owner of all, and everyone’s closest friend brings happiness.
Care for others’ welfare by sharing knowledge of Kṛṣṇa, rather than seeking spiritual progress only for yourself.
Having experienced that in external consciousness there is no happiness and Krishna consciousness only gives true happiness, the yogi tries to help everyone, without distinction between friend and enemy, to become happy by turning their consciousness to Krishna
A Krishna conscious person is a perfect yogi — Because aware of real cause of happiness and distress by dint of his personal experience
The cause of distress – Forgetfulness of relationship with God
The cause of happiness – Knowing Krishna to be the Supreme enjoyer, the Supreme proprietor and the sincerest friend
A Krishna conscious person is the best philanthropist and dearest servitor of the Lord – Because he tries to broadcast the importance of Krishna consciousness
Ref. Bg. 18.69 “na ca tasman...”
He is the best yogi because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit but tries for others also
This differentiates a pure devotee from a yogi only interested in personal salvation
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.32 & 6.33 — After hearing descriptions of asthanga-yoga, Arjuna analyzes his inability to follow the process.
Texts 6.31 & 6.32
By his proper worship, the yogi understands the actual situation of the soul in the material world. Krishna will describe that next.
Krishna describes the practices of astanga-yoga
The result are ‘Yogarudha (the perfectional stage)’ and ultimately ‘the vision of the Supersoul’.
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 6.32 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?
Offer one act today with devotion.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.