In Bhagavad Gita 12.19, Krishna says that one who is equal in blame and praise, silent, content with whatever comes, without a fixed home, steady in mind and full of devotion, is dear to him.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी
सन्तुष्टो येन केनचित्
अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्
भक्तिमान्मे प्रियो नरः ॥ १२-१९ ॥
tulyanindāstutirmaunī
santuṣṭo yena kenacit
aniketaḥ sthiramatir
bhaktimānme priyo naraḥ
English transliteration tulyanindaastutirmaunee
santushto yena kenachit
aniketah sthiramatir
bhaktimaanme priyo narah ॥ 12.19 ॥
Translation / Meaning
equal in blame and praise, silent, content with whatever comes, without attachment to a home, steady in mind and full of devotion: such a person is dear to Me.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिः tulyanindāstutiḥ | equal in blame and praise tulya (equal) + nindā (blame) + stutiḥ (praise) |
| मौनी maunī | silent |
| सन्तुष्टः santuṣṭaḥ | content |
| येन केनचित् yena kenacit | with whatever comes |
| अनिकेतः aniketaḥ | without attachment to a home |
| स्थिरमतिः sthiramatiḥ | steady in mind sthira (steady) + matiḥ (mind) |
| भक्तिमान् bhaktimān | full of devotion |
| मे me | to Me |
| प्रियः priyaḥ | dear |
| नरः naraḥ | person |
Word-wise Chanting
- tul–ya–nin–dās–tu–tir–mau–nī 8 syllables tul-ya-nin-daas-tu-tir-mau-nee
- san–tuṣ–ṭo ye–na ke–na–cit | 8 syllables san-tush-to ye-na ke-na-chit
- a–ni–ke–taḥ sthi–ra–ma–tir– 8 syllables a-ni-ke-tah sthi-ra-ma-tir-
- bhak–ti–mān–me pri–yo na–raḥ || 12-19 8 syllables bhak-ti-maan-me pri-yo na-rah
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 19
Context
The sentence begun in 12.18 is completed here.
Meaning
The devotee is unmoved by nindā and stuti, blame and praise; maunī, restrained in speech; content with whatever comes; aniketa, not bound to a particular home or place; and sthira-mati, steady in understanding. Such a devoted person is dear to the Divine.
Aniketa need not mean homelessness. It means not being attached to one’s home as the centre of security. The devotee’s true home is the Divine.
In Practice
Practise restraint of speech today: speak only what is necessary, kind and true.
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.