FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 12.13-14

అద్వేష్టా సర్వభూతానాం మైత్ర: కరుణ ఏవ చ । నిర్మమో నిరహఙ్కార: సమదు:ఖసుఖ: క్షమీ ॥ ౧౩ ॥ సన్తుష్ట: సతతం యోగీ యతాత్మా దృఢనిశ్చయ: । మయ్యర్పితమనోబుద్ధిర్యో మద్భ‍క్త: స మే ప్రియ: ॥ ౧౪ ॥
adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ
[adveshtaa sarva-bhootaanaam]
maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca
[maitrah karuna eva cha]
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ
[nirmamo nirahankaarah]
sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī
[sama-duhkha-sukhah kshamee]
santuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yogī
[santushtah satatam yogee]
yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ
[yataatmaa dridha-nishchayah]
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
[mayy arpita-mano-buddhir]
yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
[yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah]
Word-for-word
adveṣṭā — nonenvious sarva - bhūtānām — toward all living entities maitraḥ — friendly karuṇaḥ — kindly eva — certainly ca — also nirmamaḥ — with no sense of proprietorship nirahaṅkāraḥ — without false ego sama — equal duḥkha — in distress sukhaḥ — and happiness kṣamī — forgiving santuṣṭaḥ — satisfied satatam — always yogī — one engaged in devotion yata - ātmā — self-controlled dṛḍha - niścayaḥ — with determination mayi — upon Me arpita — engaged manaḥ — mind buddhiḥ — and intelligence yaḥ — one who mat - bhaktaḥ — My devotee saḥ — he me — to Me priyaḥ — dear .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ
adveṣṭā
nonenvious
sarva - bhūtānām
toward all living entities
maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca
maitraḥ
friendly
karuṇaḥ
kindly
eva
certainly
ca
also
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ
nirmamaḥ
with no sense of proprietorship
nirahaṅkāraḥ
without false ego
sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī
sama
equal
duḥkha
in distress
sukhaḥ
and happiness
kṣamī
forgiving
santuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yogī
santuṣṭaḥ
satisfied
satatam
always
yogī
one engaged in devotion
yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ
yata - ātmā
self-controlled
dṛḍha - niścayaḥ
with determination
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
mayi
upon Me
arpita
engaged
manaḥ
mind
buddhiḥ
and intelligence
yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ
yaḥ
one who
mat - bhaktaḥ
My devotee
saḥ
he
me
to Me
priyaḥ
dear .
Important Words
  • adveṣṭā — non-envious
    Negative agent-noun: 'one who does not hate.' The list opens not with positive virtue but with the removal of dveṣa. Envy is the first weed; nothing else grows until it is pulled.
  • maitraḥ — friendly
    Same root as maitrī. Friendliness is the active counterpart of non-enmity. Not neutrality — warm regard, extended to all beings (sarva-bhūtānām).
  • nirmamaḥ — without 'mine'-ness
    Negation of mama (my). Possessiveness pulled out at the root. The bhakta still uses things, still has relationships, but the silent label 'mine' has been peeled off.
  • nirahaṅkāraḥ — without false ego
    Negation of ahaṅkāra (I-maker). Paired with nirmama as the twin disease. Together they form the deepest knot of conditioned identity. Both must go.
  • kṣamī — forgiving, tolerant
    From kṣam, 'to be patient, to forgive.' Same root as kṣamā, the earth's signature virtue. The bhakta absorbs offense the way the earth absorbs the plow.
  • santuṣṭaḥ — always satisfied
    Sam + tuṣ — 'completely contented.' The chronic dissatisfaction that drives the conditioned soul has been extinguished; whatever comes is enough.
  • dṛḍha - niścayaḥ — with firm determination
    Compound: dṛḍha (firm) + niścaya (resolve). The list is not a soft character sketch — it is held together by an iron determination, without which the rest collapses.
  • priyaḥ — dear
    The chapter's signature word from here onward. Repeated like a refrain in vv. 13-20. Kṛṣṇa is not merely describing devotees; He is naming whom He loves. Affection, not approval.
One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me – such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.
Purport

Coming again to the point of pure devotional service, the Lord is describing the transcendental qualifications of a pure devotee in these two verses. A pure devotee is never disturbed in any circumstances. Nor is he envious of anyone. Nor does a devotee become his enemy’s enemy; he thinks, “This person is acting as my enemy due to my own past misdeeds. So it is better to suffer than to protest.” In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.8) it is stated: tat te ’nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam. Whenever a devotee is in distress or has fallen into difficulty, he thinks that it is the Lord’s mercy upon him. He thinks, “Thanks to my past misdeeds I should suffer far, far greater than I am suffering now. So it is by the mercy of the Supreme Lord that I am not getting all the punishment I am due. I am just getting a little, by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Therefore he is always calm, quiet and patient, despite many distressful conditions. A devotee is also always kind to everyone, even to his enemy. Nirmama means that a devotee does not attach much importance to the pains and trouble pertaining to the body because he knows perfectly well that he is not the material body. He does not identify with the body; therefore he is freed from the conception of false ego and is equipoised in happiness and distress. He is tolerant, and he is satisfied with whatever comes by the grace of the Supreme Lord. He does not endeavor much to achieve something with great difficulty; therefore he is always joyful. He is a completely perfect mystic because he is fixed in the instructions received from the spiritual master, and because his senses are controlled he is determined. He is not swayed by false arguments, because no one can lead him from the fixed determination of devotional service. He is fully conscious that Kṛṣṇa is the eternal Lord, so no one can disturb him. All these qualifications enable him to fix his mind and intelligence entirely on the Supreme Lord. Such a standard of devotional service is undoubtedly very rare, but a devotee becomes situated in that stage by following the regulative principles of devotional service. Furthermore, the Lord says that such a devotee is very dear to Him, for the Lord is always pleased with all his activities in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

This is a description of a pure devotee.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: Takes all sufferings as Krishna’s kindness to avoid reaction

1. Tolerant – Never disturbed by any circumstances

2. Non-envious – Kind to everyone even to his enemy

Not become his enemies’ enemy – considers all reactions as result of one's past misdeeds (Ref. SB 10.14.8 “Tat te anukampa…”)
Takes distress as the Lord’s mercy: “I deserve much more”

3. ‘Nirmama’ (Free from Proprietorship) – Devotee does not attach much importance to the pains and

troubles of the body

Free from false-ego: Knows that “I am not the body”
Equipoised in happiness and distress

4. Satisfied – Whatever comes by Lord’s grace; does not over-endeavor to achieve something

5. Self-controlled/Completely perfect mystic – Because completely fixed in instructions of spiritual

master

6. Determined because of Sense control – Therefore fully determined and cannot be swayed by false

arguments

7. Mind and intelligence fixed entirely on the Supreme Lord – Because Fully conscious that Krishna is

the eternal Lord

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
12.13 Advesta, he who is not hateful; sarva-bhutanam, towards any creature: He does not feel repulsion for anything, even for what may be the cause of sorrow to himself, for he sees all beings as his own Self. Maitrah, he who is friendly-behaving like a friend; karunah eva ca, and compassionate: karuna is kindness, compassion towards sorrow-stricken creatures; one possessing that is karunah, i.e. a monk, who grants safety to all creatures. Nirmamah, he who has no idea of 'mine'; nirahankarah, who has no idea of egoism; sama-duhkha-sukhah, who is the same under sorrow and happiness, he in whom sorrow and happiness do not arouse any repulsion or attraction; ksami, who is forgiving, who remains unperturbed even when abused or assaulted;
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
12.13 - 12.14 In these and succeeding verses the Lord mentions the nature of the Karma Yogi who adores Him through his works. In other words the Bhakti element in Karma Yoga is emphasised. He never hates any being even though they hate him and do him wrong. For he thinks that the Lord impels these beings to hate him and do him wrong for atoning for his transgressions. He is 'friendly', evincing a friendly disposition towards all beings whether they hate him or do him wrong. He is 'compassionate', evincing compassion towards their sufferings. He is free from the 'feeling of mine,' i.e., he is not possessive with regard to his body, senses and all things associated with them. He is free from the feeling of 'I', i.e., is free from the delusion that his body is the self. Therefore, 'pain and pleasure are the same to him,' i.e., he is free from distress and delight resulting from pain and pleasure arising from his deeds. He is 'enduring', unaffected even by those two (i.e., pleasure and pain) due to the inevitable contact of sense-objects. He is 'content', namely, satisfied with whatever chance may bring him for the sustenance of his body. He 'ever meditates,' i.e., is constantly intent on contemplating on the self as separate from the body. He is 'self-restrained', namely, he controls the activities of his mind. He is of 'firm conviction' regarding the meanings taught in the science of the self. His 'mind and reason are dedicated to Me' i.e., his mind and reason are dedicated to Me in the form 'Bhagavan Vasudeva alone is propitiated by disinterested activities, and when duly propitiated, He wil bring about for me the direct vision of the self.' Such a devotee of mine, i.e., who works in this manner as a Karma Yogin, is dear to Me.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
12.13 See Comment under 12.14
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
12.13 He who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate to all, who is free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving.
Commentary

12.13 अद्वेष्टा nonhater? सर्वभूतानाम् of (to) all creatures? मैत्रः friendly? करुणः compassionate? एव even? च and? निर्ममः without mineness? निरहङ्कारः without egoism? समदुःखसुखः balanced in pleasure and pain? क्षमी forgiving.Commentary Lord Krishna gives a description of the nature of a Bhagavata or a sage in the following eight verses. These eight verses are called Amritashtakam.The devotee who is established in God bears illwill to none. He looks on all with love and great compassion. He regards all beings as himself. He does not hate even a single being? not even the creature which gives him intense pain. He who entertains mercy towards suffering people and tries to relieve their sufferings is a man of Karuna. He puts himself in the position of the sufferer and feels the pain himself. Mercy is a divine attribute. God is allmerciful. If you wish to hold communion with the Lord? and if you desire to attain Godhead? you must also become allmerciful.The perfect devotee offers full security of life (Abhayadana) to all beings. He is a Paramahamsa Sannyasi. The devotee only can really understand the mysterious ways of the Lord. He beholds the Lord everywhere. He sees the Lord in all creatures. That is the reason why he has eal vision. He is like the sun or the river. The sun sheds its light eally on a palace or a cottage. Anyone can drink the water of a river. A river enches the thirst of cows as well as tigers and lions. The idea of mineness and Iness never arises in the devotees mind. He has no sense of mine and thine. He is indifferent to pleasure and pain. He is not attached to pleasant objects. He does not hate the objects that give him pain. He is as forgiving as the earth. He is not affected a bit when anybody insults? abuses or beats him.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
12.13 He who is not hateful towards any creature, who is friendly and compassionate, who has no idea of 'mine' and the idea of egoism, who is the same under sorrow and happiness, who is forgiving;
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
12.13 He who is incapable of hatred towards any being, who is kind and compassionate, free from selfishness, without pride, equable in pleasure and in pain, and forgiving,
Related values & verses
Primary values
Titiksha (Forbearance / Endurance)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Daya (Compassion / Mercy)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)
Related values
Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Vinaya (Humility / Modesty)Kritajnata (Gratitude)Santosha (Contentment)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to God)
Related verses
BG 2.55 BG 5.7 BG 6.32 SB 3.25.21 SB 5.18.12 SB 11.11.29 CC Madhya 22.78 CC Madhya 23.110 CC Antya 4.176 Īśa Upaniṣad 6 BRS 1.3.1
Stories
maitri_epic_primarykaruna_epic_primary
Study Q&A referencing this verse
Sciences essays referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
One who is non-envious, friendly to all, free from possessiveness, equal in pleasure and pain, forgiving, content, self-controlled, with mind and intelligence fixed on Me — that devotee is dear to Me.
Practical Applications
  • Audit each quality in this list as your weekly self-review.
  • Address the weakest quality with deliberate practice.
  • Treat 'dear to Me' as a real bond, not metaphor.
Reflection Questions
  • Which quality from this list is weakest in me?
  • What single discipline addresses it?
Analogy

Picture a still pond at dawn: no envy ripples its surface, no claim of ownership darkens its bed, no swing of pleasure and pain stirs it from below. A bird lands; a bird leaves; the pond reflects each and holds neither. Such a pond, Kṛṣṇa says, is the bhakta's heart — and that heart is dear to Him because His own face is reflected there without distortion.

Stories
Vidura's refusal

When Duryodhana invited Kṛṣṇa to a palace feast on the eve of war, Kṛṣṇa walked past the royal kitchens and went instead to Vidura's modest house, where he ate plain greens. Vidura, born of a maidservant, owned nothing, claimed nothing, was equal in honor and dishonor, friendly to every being including the cousins who had insulted him.

Kṛṣṇa's choice that night is His own commentary on this verse. Adveṣṭā, nirmamaḥ, nirahaṅkāraḥ, sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ — every qualifier the verse lists, Vidura embodied. So Kṛṣṇa came and ate at his table.

Haridāsa Ṭhākura under the lash

When the Kazi of Phulia ordered Haridāsa Ṭhākura beaten across twenty-two market places for chanting the holy name, Haridāsa felt no enmity. As the rods came down, he prayed for the soldiers and the Kazi himself, asking the Lord not to hold their offense against them.

Forgiving (kṣamī), nonenvious (adveṣṭā), friendly (maitra) even to executioners, equal in distress and happiness, his mind fixed on Kṛṣṇa with determination — Haridāsa is this verse standing upright in the marketplace. Caitanya Mahāprabhu would later name him nāmācārya for the same reason Kṛṣṇa here names such a soul 'priyaḥ.'

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 12