12. Devotion

Bhakti Yog

BG 12.13

One who treats all beings with friendliness and compassion, is free from selfishness and pride, can look upon pleasure and pain with equanimity, is forgiving, ...

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी

Krishna's monologue in the following eight verses is similar to the Beatitudes, a sequence of proverbial proclamations made by Jesus to his followers (Matthew 5:3-10). It is a simple set of behavior patterns that establish one's distance to divinity.

  • adveṣhṭā — free from malice

  • sarva-bhūtānāṁ — toward all living beings

    • sarva

    • bhūtānāṁ

  • maitraḥ — friendly

  • karuṇa — compassionate

  • eva — indeed

  • cha — and

  • nirmamo — free from possession

  • nirahankāraḥ — free from egoism

  • sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ — equanimous to pain and pleasure

    • sama — equal, equanimous

    • duḥkha — sorrow, pain

    • sukhaḥ — pleasure, happiness

  • kṣhamī — forgiving

...12.12

One who treats all beings with friendliness and compassion, is free from selfishness and pride, can look upon pleasure and pain with equanimity, is forgiving,

[13]

ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, with firm convictions, whose mind and intellect are dedicated to me - such a devotee is most dear to me.

[14]

12.15...
Chapter 12, Verse 13