In Bhagavad Gita 6.7, Krishna says the Supreme Self is steady in one who has conquered the self and is at peace, in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, honour and dishonour.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
जितात्मनः प्रशान्तस्य
परमात्मा समाहितः
शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु
तथा मानापमानयोः ॥ ६-७ ॥
jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya
paramātmā samāhitaḥ
śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu
tathā mānāpamānayoḥ
English transliteration jitaatmanah prashaantasya
paramaatmaa samaahitah
sheetoshnasukhaduhkheshu
tathaa maanaapamaanayoh ॥ 6.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For one who has conquered the self and is serene, the Supreme Self remains steady in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and in honour and dishonour.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| जितात्मनः jitātmanaḥ | of one who has conquered the self jita (conquered) + ātmanaḥ (self) |
| प्रशान्तस्य praśāntasya | of the serene |
| परमात्मा paramātmā | the Supreme Self |
| समाहितः samāhitaḥ | steady, collected |
| शीतोष्णसुखदुःखेषु śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkheṣu | in cold and heat, pleasure and pain śīta (cold) + uṣṇa (heat) + sukha (pleasure) + duḥkheṣu (pain) |
| तथा tathā | likewise |
| मानापमानयोः mānāpamānayoḥ | in honour and dishonour māna (honour) + apamānayoḥ (dishonour) |
Word-wise Chanting
- ji–tāt–ma–naḥ pra–śān–tas–ya 8 syllables ji-taat-ma-nah pra-shaan-tas-ya
- pa–ra–māt–mā sa–mā–hi–taḥ | 8 syllables pa-ra-maat-maa sa-maa-hi-tah
- śī–toṣ–ṇa–su–kha–duḥ–khe–ṣu 8 syllables shee-tosh-na-su-kha-duh-khe-shu
- ta–thā mā–nā–pa–mā–na–yoḥ || 6-7 8 syllables ta-thaa maa-naa-pa-maa-na-yoh
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 7
Context
Krishna describes the yogi who has conquered the self (6.7–6.9).
Meaning
When the mind is mastered and peaceful, the Supreme Self within is samāhita, steadily present. External conditions, physical, emotional and social, no longer shake the yogi. Cold and heat, pleasure and pain, praise and insult pass over the surface without disturbing the depth.
The verse lists three levels of disturbance: physical (cold and heat), emotional (pleasure and pain) and social (honour and dishonour). The last is often the hardest. True steadiness extends even to how others see and treat us.
In Practice
Notice how much other people’s opinions affect you today. Practise remaining steady whether you receive praise or criticism.
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.