In Bhagavad Gita 14.24, Krishna says such a person is the same in pleasure and pain, established in the Self, regarding a clod, a stone and gold alike, the same to the pleasant and unpleasant, wise and equal in blame and praise.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः
समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः
तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्
तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः ॥ १४-२४ ॥
samaduḥkhasukhaḥ svasthaḥ
samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ
tulyapriyāpriyo dhīras
tulyanindātmasaṃstutiḥ
English transliteration samaduhkhasukhah svasthah
samaloshtaashmakaanchanah
tulyapriyaapriyo dheeras
tulyanindaatmasamstutih ॥ 14.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
the same in pleasure and pain, established in the Self, regarding a clod of earth, a stone and gold as equal, the same toward the pleasant and unpleasant, steadfast, the same in blame and praise of himself,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| समदुःखसुखः samaduḥkhasukhaḥ | the same in pleasure and pain |
| स्वस्थः svasthaḥ | established in the Self sva (Self) + sthaḥ (established) |
| समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥ | regarding a clod, a stone and gold as equal sama (equal) + loṣṭa (clod) + aśma (stone) + kāñcanaḥ (gold) |
| तुल्यप्रियाप्रियः tulyapriyāpriyaḥ | the same toward the pleasant and unpleasant tulya (same) + priya (pleasant) + apriyaḥ (unpleasant) |
| धीरः dhīraḥ | steadfast |
| तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः tulyanindātmasaṃstutiḥ | the same in blame and praise of himself tulya (same) + nindā (blame) + ātma (self) + saṃstutiḥ (praise) |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa–ma–duḥ–kha–su–khaḥ svas–thaḥ 8 syllables sa-ma-duh-kha-su-khah svas-thah
- sa–ma–loṣ–ṭāś–ma–kāñ–ca–naḥ | 8 syllables sa-ma-losh-taash-ma-kaan-cha-nah
- tul–yap–ri–yāp–ri–yo dhī–ras– 8 syllables tul-yap-ri-yaap-ri-yo dhee-ras-
- tul–ya–nin–dāt–ma–saṃs–tu–tiḥ || 14-24 8 syllables tul-ya-nin-daat-ma-sams-tu-tih
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 14 Verse 24
Context
Krishna continues the description (14.22–14.25); the sentence continues into 14.25.
Meaning
The one beyond the guṇas is svastha, established in the Self, and therefore balanced in every pair of opposites: pleasure and pain, pleasant and unpleasant, blame and praise. Even a lump of earth, a stone and gold are seen as equal in value, since none of them adds to the Self.
Freedom from the guṇas shows itself in deep equanimity. External things lose their power to excite or depress.
In Practice
Hold a stone and a gold or valuable object today, and reflect on what truly gives you worth.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Three Gunas). 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.