In Bhagavad Gita 5.18, Krishna says the wise see with equal vision a learned and humble brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and an outcaste.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने
ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि
शुनि चैव श्वपाके च
पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ॥ ५-१८ ॥
vidyāvinayasampanne
brāhmaṇe gavi hastini
śuni caiva śvapāke ca
paṇḍitāḥ samadarśinaḥ
English transliteration vidyaavinayasampanne
braahmane gavi hastini
shuni chaiva shvapaake cha
panditaah samadarshinah ॥ 5.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The wise see with an equal eye a learned and humble brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and an outcaste who eats dog-flesh.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने vidyāvinayasampanne | endowed with learning and humility vidyā (learning) + vinaya (humility) + sampanne (endowed) |
| ब्राह्मणे brāhmaṇe | in a brāhmaṇa |
| गवि gavi | in a cow |
| हस्तिनि hastini | in an elephant |
| शुनि śuni | in a dog |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| श्वपाके śvapāke | in an outcaste śva (dog) + pāke (cooker) |
| च ca | and |
| पण्डिताः paṇḍitāḥ | the wise |
| समदर्शिनः samadarśinaḥ | see with an equal eye sama (equal) + darśinaḥ (seeing) |
Word-wise Chanting
- vid–yā–vi–na–ya–sam–pan–ne 8 syllables vid-yaa-vi-na-ya-sam-pan-ne
- brāh–ma–ṇe ga–vi has–ti–ni | 8 syllables braah-ma-ne ga-vi has-ti-ni
- śu–ni cai–va śva–pā–ke ca 8 syllables shu-ni chai-va shva-paa-ke cha
- paṇ–ḍi–tāḥ sa–ma–dar–śi–naḥ || 5-18 8 syllables pan-di-taah sa-ma-dar-shi-nah
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 5 Verse 18
Context
Krishna describes the vision of the realised (5.18–5.20).
Meaning
The examples span the highest and lowest of social and animal life as viewed in ancient India: a learned, humble brahmana; a revered cow; a mighty elephant; a dog; and a śvapāka, an outcaste. The wise see the same Self in all of them. Their vision is sama, equal, because they look beyond form to the one reality.
This verse is a powerful statement against prejudice. Distinctions of birth, status and species are real at the level of form, but not at the level of the Self. Equal vision does not mean treating all situations identically, but honouring the same divinity in every being.
In Practice
Notice whom you tend to look down on or overlook. Greet them today with the same respect you give to people you admire.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of Renunciation). 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.