In Bhagavad Gita 12.18, Krishna describes one who is the same to enemy and friend, in honour and dishonour, in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, free from attachment.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च
तथा मानापमानयोः
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु
समः सङ्गविवर्जितः ॥ १२-१८ ॥
samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca
tathā mānāpamānayoḥ
śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu
samaḥ saṅgavivarjitaḥ
English transliteration samah shatrau cha mitre cha
tathaa maanaapamaanayoh
sheetoshnasukhaduhkheshu
samah sangavivarjitah ॥ 12.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who is the same toward enemy and friend, in honour and dishonour, in cold and heat, in pleasure and pain, and who is free from attachment,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| समः samaḥ | the same |
| शत्रौ śatrau | toward enemy |
| च ca | and |
| मित्रे mitre | toward friend |
| च ca | and |
| तथा tathā | also |
| मानापमानयोः mānāpamānayoḥ | in honour and dishonour māna (honour) + apamānayoḥ (dishonour) |
| शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu | in cold and heat, pleasure and pain śīta (cold) + uṣṇa (heat) + sukha (pleasure) + duḥkheṣu (pain) |
| समः samaḥ | the same |
| सङ्गविवर्जितः saṅgavivarjitaḥ | free from attachment saṅga (attachment) + vivarjitaḥ (free) |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa–maḥ śat–rau ca mit–re ca 8 syllables sa-mah shat-rau cha mit-re cha
- ta–thā mā–nā–pa–mā–na–yoḥ | 8 syllables ta-thaa maa-naa-pa-maa-na-yoh
- śī–toṣ–ṇa–su–kha–duḥ–khe–ṣu 8 syllables shee-tosh-na-su-kha-duh-khe-shu
- sa–maḥ saṅ–ga–vi–var–ji–taḥ || 12-18 8 syllables sa-mah san-ga-vi-var-ji-tah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 12 Verse 18
Context
The description of the dear devotee continues; the sentence continues into 12.19.
Meaning
Equanimity is the devotee’s hallmark. They treat śatru and mitra, foe and friend, with the same goodwill. They remain steady in honour and insult, cold and heat, pleasure and pain. Free from saṅga, attachment, they are not pulled by circumstances.
Equal treatment of enemies and friends is a high ideal. It does not mean naivety, but freedom from hatred and favouritism.
In Practice
Think of someone you consider an opponent, and wish them well sincerely today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.