In Bhagavad Gita 6.32, Krishna says the highest yogi is one who, by comparison with himself, sees the same everywhere, whether in pleasure or in pain.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र
समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन
सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं
स योगी परमो मतः ॥ ६-३२ ॥
ātmaupamyena sarvatra
samaṃ paśyati yo’rjuna
sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ
sa yogī paramo mataḥ
English transliteration aatmaupamyena sarvatra
samam pashyati yo’rjuna
sukham vaa yadi vaa duhkham
sa yogee paramo matah ॥ 6.32 ॥
Translation / Meaning
O Arjuna, the one who sees equality everywhere by comparison with his own self, whether in pleasure or in pain, is considered the highest yogi.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आत्मौपम्येन ātmaupamyena | by comparison with oneself ātma (self) + aupamyena (by likeness) |
| सर्वत्र sarvatra | everywhere |
| समम् samam | equal |
| पश्यति paśyati | sees |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| अर्जुन arjuna | O Arjuna |
| सुखम् sukham | pleasure |
| वा vā | or |
| यदि वा yadi vā | or |
| दुःखम् duḥkham | pain |
| सः saḥ | he |
| योगी yogī | yogi |
| परमः paramaḥ | highest |
| मतः mataḥ | is considered |
Word-wise Chanting
- āt–mau–pam–ye–na sar–vat–ra 8 syllables aat-mau-pam-ye-na sar-vat-ra
- sa–maṃ paś–ya–ti yo–‘rju–na | 8 syllables sa-mam pash-ya-ti yo-‘rju-na
- su–khaṃ vā ya–di vā duḥ–khaṃ 8 syllables su-kham vaa ya-di vaa duh-kham
- sa yo–gī pa–ra–mo ma–taḥ || 6-32 8 syllables sa yo-gee pa-ra-mo ma-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 6 Verse 32
Context
Krishna concludes the description of the unity-seeing yogi (6.29–6.32).
Meaning
Ātma-aupamya means seeing others by analogy with oneself. As I feel my own pleasure and pain, I recognise the same in others. The highest yogi feels others’ joys and sorrows as their own and acts accordingly. This is empathy rooted in the vision of oneness.
This verse defines the highest yogi not by meditative feats but by compassion. Whoever truly feels another’s pain as their own cannot harm them and will naturally help. Spiritual realisation is proved in kindness.
In Practice
When someone shares a joy or sorrow with you today, imagine it as your own and respond from that feeling.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). 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.