In Bhagavad Gita 2.57, Krishna says that one who is unattached everywhere, who neither rejoices at good nor hates evil when it comes, has established wisdom.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्
तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम्
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि
तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ २-५७ ॥
yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehas
tattatprāpya śubhāśubham
nābhinandati na dveṣṭi
tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
English transliteration yah sarvatraanabhisnehas
tattatpraapya shubhaashubham
naabhinandati na dveshti
tasya prajnaa pratishthitaa ॥ 2.57 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who is free from attachment everywhere, who neither rejoices on meeting what is pleasant nor hates what is unpleasant, has wisdom that is firmly established.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यः yaḥ | who |
| सर्वत्र sarvatra | everywhere |
| अनभिस्नेहः anabhisnehaḥ | without attachment an (without) + abhisnehaḥ (attachment) |
| तत् तत् tat tat | this or that |
| प्राप्य prāpya | obtaining |
| शुभाशुभम् śubhāśubham | good or bad śubha (good) + aśubham (bad) |
| न na | not |
| अभिनन्दति abhinandati | rejoices |
| न na | not |
| द्वेष्टि dveṣṭi | hates |
| तस्य tasya | his |
| प्रज्ञा prajñā | wisdom |
| प्रतिष्ठिता pratiṣṭhitā | is established |
Word-wise Chanting
- yaḥ sar–vat–rā–na–bhis–ne–has– 8 syllables yah sar-vat-raa-na-bhis-ne-has-
- tat–tat–prāp–ya śu–bhā–śu–bham | 8 syllables tat-tat-praap-ya shu-bhaa-shu-bham
- nā–bhi–nan–da–ti na dveṣ–ṭi 8 syllables naa-bhi-nan-da-ti na dvesh-ti
- tas–ya pra–jñā pra–tiṣ–ṭhi–tā || 2-57 8 syllables tas-ya pra-jnaa pra-tish-thi-taa
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 2 Verse 57
Context
The description of the person of steady wisdom continues from 2.56.
Meaning
Whatever comes, good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, the steady sage meets it without excitement or hatred. This is not dullness; it is the freedom of a mind that is not dominated by likes and dislikes. The sage still sees good and bad clearly but is not thrown about by them.
The refrain tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā, “his wisdom is established,” will be repeated several times (2.57, 2.58, 2.61, 2.68). Each repetition highlights a different aspect of steadiness. Here the emphasis is on equanimity in the face of life’s changing circumstances.
In Practice
When something pleasant or unpleasant happens today, notice the first wave of reaction. Let it pass before you respond.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). 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.