Equal in praise and blame, silent, content with whatever comes, homeless, steady-minded—the devoted person is dear to me.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 12.19
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो शत्रु और मित्रमें तथा मानअपमानमें सम है और शीतउष्ण अनुकूलताप्रतिकूलता तथा सुखदुःखमें सम है एवं आसक्तिसे रहित है, और जो निन्दास्तुतिको समान समझनेवाला, मननशील, जिसकिसी प्रकारसे भी शरीरका निर्वाह होनेमें संतुष्ट, रहनेके स्थान तथा शरीरमें ममताआसक्तिसे रहित और स्थिर बुद्धिवाला है, वह भक्तिमान् मनुष्य मुझे प्रिय है ॥
A devoted person stays steady through praise and blame, remains quiet, accepts whatever comes, feels no possessiveness about home, and keeps a firm mind.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna describes the devotee who has become inwardly steady: unmoved by praise or blame, free from clinging, and content with whatever life provides.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A temple priest hears people praise his recitation one day and mock his accent the next. Krishna's devotee stays the same through both, says little, and is content with whatever comes.
The takeaway
“Real devotion looks calm, unshaken, and unneedy.”
A devoted person stays steady through praise and blame, remains quiet, accepts whatever comes, feels no possessiveness about home, and keeps a firm mind.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 12.19?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Bhakti Yoga" (The Yoga of Devotion).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 12.19?
Verse 19 sits in Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita — Bhakti Yoga, "The Yoga of Devotion". The chapter has 20 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 12.19 matter today?
A temple priest hears people praise his recitation one day and mock his accent the next. Krishna's devotee stays the same through both, says little, and is content with whatever comes.
Krishna adds praise and blame, silence, contentment, and having no fixed home to his portrait of the steady devotee.
What this verse means
A devoted person stays steady through praise and blame, remains quiet, accepts whatever comes, feels no possessiveness about home, and keeps a firm mind.
Context & commentary
Krishna describes the devotee who has become inwardly steady: unmoved by praise or blame, free from clinging, and content with whatever life provides.
What it looks like today
A temple priest hears people praise his recitation one day and mock his accent the next. Krishna's devotee stays the same through both, says little, and is content with whatever comes.
“Real devotion looks calm, unshaken, and unneedy.”
Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses)