The steady one is equal in honor and dishonor, equal toward friend and foe, and has abandoned all undertakings. Such a person is called beyond the three gunas.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 14.25
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.
मानापमानयोःin honor and dishonorतुल्यःequalतुल्यःequalमित्रारिपक्षयोःtoward friend and enemy sidesसर्वारम्भपरित्यागीone who has abandoned all beginnings of actionगुणातीतःbeyond the gunasसःthat oneउच्यतेis called
Read literallyin honor and dishonor · equal · equal · toward friend and enemy sides · one who has abandoned all beginnings of action · beyond the gunas · that one · is called
Understanding the verse
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Honour and insult, friend and foe: the person beyond the gunas meets each with the same evenness.
A truly steady person stays the same in praise or insult, with friends or enemies, and no longer starts actions from personal craving. That person rises beyond the three gunas.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna is being taught how to outgrow the forces that bind ordinary behavior. Krishna describes the person who no longer sways with praise, blame, allies, or enemies, and who has let go of ego-driven action. That is the mark of one beyond the gunas.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
At a retirement function, colleagues who once opposed you now give speeches of praise. Krishna's ideal treats the old opposition and the new honour alike, and gives up ventures started for the ego.
The takeaway
“You can stop living as a puppet of approval, rejection, and impulse.”
Explore related themes: gunas(47 verses), equanimity(23 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 14.25 mean?
A truly steady person stays the same in praise or insult, with friends or enemies, and no longer starts actions from personal craving. That person rises beyond the three gunas.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 14.25?
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 14.25?
Verse 25 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 14.25 matter today?
At a retirement function, colleagues who once opposed you now give speeches of praise. Krishna's ideal treats the old opposition and the new honour alike, and gives up ventures started for the ego.
Honour and insult, friend and foe: the person beyond the gunas meets each with the same evenness.
What this verse means
A truly steady person stays the same in praise or insult, with friends or enemies, and no longer starts actions from personal craving. That person rises beyond the three gunas.
Context & commentary
Arjuna is being taught how to outgrow the forces that bind ordinary behavior. Krishna describes the person who no longer sways with praise, blame, allies, or enemies, and who has let go of ego-driven action. That is the mark of one beyond the gunas.
What it looks like today
At a retirement function, colleagues who once opposed you now give speeches of praise. Krishna's ideal treats the old opposition and the new honour alike, and gives up ventures started for the ego.
“You can stop living as a puppet of approval, rejection, and impulse.”
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses), equanimity (23 verses)