The steady one remains equal in pleasure and pain, in a clod of earth, a stone, and gold; equal toward the liked and the disliked, toward praise and blame.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 14.24
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो धीर मनुष्य सुखदुःखमें सम तथा अपने स्वरूपमें स्थित रहता है जो मिट्टीके ढेले, पत्थर और सोनेमें सम रहता है जो प्रियअप्रियमें तथा अपनी निन्दास्तुतिमें सम रहता है जो मानअपमानमें तथा मित्रशत्रुके पक्षमें सम रहता है जो सम्पूर्ण कर्मोंके आरम्भका त्यागी है, वह मनुष्य गुणातीत कहा जाता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
समदुःखसुखःequal in sorrow and joyस्वस्थःestablished in the true selfसमलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनःequal toward clod, stone, and goldतुल्यप्रियाप्रियःequal toward the liked and the dislikedधीरःthe steadfast oneतुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिःequal toward blame and self-praise
Read literallyequal in sorrow and joy · established in the true self · equal toward clod, stone, and gold · equal toward the liked and the disliked · the steadfast one · equal toward blame and self-praise
Understanding the verse
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A clod of earth, a stone and gold look alike to the steady one, and so do praise and blame.
A truly steady person does not get shaken by pleasure, pain, praise, blame, wealth, or ordinary objects. They stay centered in themselves.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna continues teaching Arjuna about the person who has risen above the three gunas. After describing one who is not disturbed by them, he now shows what that looks like in daily life: equal mind in pain and pleasure, praise and blame, gold and dirt.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A cricketer hears cheers after a century and abuse after a duck in the same season. Krishna's steady person meets both with the same even mind, the way they would treat a stone and a lump of gold.
The takeaway
“You do not have to be pulled around by every reaction. Steadiness is possible.”
A truly steady person does not get shaken by pleasure, pain, praise, blame, wealth, or ordinary objects. They stay centered in themselves.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 14.24?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga" (The Three Modes of Material Nature).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 14.24?
Verse 24 sits in Chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita — Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga, "The Three Modes of Material Nature". The chapter has 27 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 14.24 matter today?
A cricketer hears cheers after a century and abuse after a duck in the same season. Krishna's steady person meets both with the same even mind, the way they would treat a stone and a lump of gold.
A clod of earth, a stone and gold look alike to the steady one, and so do praise and blame.
What this verse means
A truly steady person does not get shaken by pleasure, pain, praise, blame, wealth, or ordinary objects. They stay centered in themselves.
Context & commentary
Krishna continues teaching Arjuna about the person who has risen above the three gunas. After describing one who is not disturbed by them, he now shows what that looks like in daily life: equal mind in pain and pleasure, praise and blame, gold and dirt.
What it looks like today
A cricketer hears cheers after a century and abuse after a duck in the same season. Krishna's steady person meets both with the same even mind, the way they would treat a stone and a lump of gold.
“You do not have to be pulled around by every reaction. Steadiness is possible.”
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses), equanimity (23 verses), samatva (13 verses)