Sacred verse

Bhagavad Gita 12.17BG 12.17 · Chapter 12, Verse 17

Bhakti Yoga · Verse 17

A core teaching · reflective in mood · a little context helps

“Devotion becomes steady when liking and disliking no longer rule the heart.”

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

The verse

यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्ितमान्यः स मे प्रियः ॥

One who neither rejoices, hates, grieves, nor craves, and who has given up attachment to both good and bad actions, is dear to me.

— Krishna

Bhagavad Gita · 12.17

Hindi · हिन्दी

जो न कभी हर्षित होता है, न द्वेष करता है, न शोक करता है, न कामना करता है और जो शुभअशुभ कर्मोंमें रागद्वेषका त्यागी है, वह भक्तिमान् मनुष्य मुझे प्रिय है ॥

Themes:bhakti vairagya attachment aversion equanimity

Word by word

The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.

यःwhoनnotहृष्यतिrejoicesनnotद्वेष्टिhatesनnotशोचतिgrievesनnotकाङ्क्षतिcravesशुभाशुभपरित्यागीone who has abandoned good-and-bad attachmentभक्तिमान्devotedयःone whoसःthat oneमेto meप्रियःdear

Read literallywho · not · rejoices · not · hates · not · grieves · not · craves · one who has abandoned good-and-bad attachment · devoted · one who · that one · to me · dear

Understanding the verse

It teaches you to stop feeding emotional reactions with attachment and aversion.

Built onBhakti69 Vairagya51

In plain words

What this verse means

A devoted person stays free from excitement, hatred, sorrow, and craving. They do not cling to outcomes or label actions as personally theirs.

On the battlefield

Context & commentary

Krishna is still speaking on the battlefield to Arjuna, who is frozen by grief and conflict. After describing the qualities of a beloved devotee, he adds another: the person who no longer swings between liking and disliking, and who has dropped attachment to both good and bad action.

In your life

Why this verse still matters

You read a message that praises your work and another that criticizes it. If your mood rises and crashes with each one, you are still captive. This verse points to steadiness that does not depend on applause.

The takeaway

“There is relief in not having to chase or resist every feeling.”

Carry it with you