In Bhagavad Gita 6.9, Krishna says the one who regards well-wishers, friends, enemies, the indifferent, neutrals, the hateful, relatives, the good and the sinful with equal mind excels.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनम्
अध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु
साधुष्वपि च पापेषु
समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥ ६-९ ॥
suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnam
adhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu
sādhuṣvapi ca pāpeṣu
samabuddhirviśiṣyate
English transliteration suhrinmitraaryudaaseenam
adhyasthadveshyabandhushu
saadhushvapi cha paapeshu
samabuddhirvishishyate ॥ 6.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who has an equal mind toward well-wishers, friends, enemies, the indifferent, the neutral, the hateful, relatives, the virtuous and the sinful excels.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu | toward well-wishers, friends, enemies, the indifferent, neutrals, the hateful and relatives suhṛt (well-wisher) + mitra (friend) + ari (enemy) + udāsīna (indifferent) + madhyastha (neutral) + dveṣya (hateful) + bandhuṣu (relatives) |
| साधुषु sādhuṣu | toward the virtuous |
| अपि api | also |
| च ca | and |
| पापेषु pāpeṣu | toward the sinful |
| समबुद्धिः samabuddhiḥ | of equal mind sama (equal) + buddhiḥ (mind) |
| विशिष्यते viśiṣyate | excels |
Word-wise Chanting
- su–hṛn–mit–rār–yu–dā–sī–nam– 8 syllables su-hrin-mit-raar-yu-daa-see-nam-
- adh–yas–thad–veṣ–ya–ban–dhu–ṣu | 8 syllables adh-yas-thad-vesh-ya-ban-dhu-shu
- sā–dhuṣ–va–pi ca pā–pe–ṣu 8 syllables saa-dhush-va-pi cha paa-pe-shu
- sa–ma–bud–dhir–vi–śiṣ–ya–te || 6-9 8 syllables sa-ma-bud-dhir-vi-shish-ya-te
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 9
Context
Krishna completes his portrait of the established yogi (6.7–6.9).
Meaning
The list is long and deliberate: every kind of relationship is included, from the well-wisher to the one who hates us, from relatives to strangers, from the virtuous to the sinful. Sama-buddhi, equal mind, is the highest mark of the yogi. It is harder than seeing gold and clay as equal, because people provoke strong feelings.
Equality of mind toward people does not mean approving of wrong actions or ignoring danger. It means not letting attachment or hatred distort our perception and response. We can act wisely toward each person without inner hostility.
In Practice
Think of someone you dislike. Wish them well sincerely for a minute, and notice what happens in your heart.
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.