Contacts with the senses, O son of Kunti, bring heat and cold, pleasure and pain. They come and go; they are impermanent. Endure them, O Bharata.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.14
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे कुन्तीनन्दन इन्द्रियोंके जो विषय जड पदार्थ हैं, वो तो शीत अनुकूलता और उष्ण प्रतिकूलता के द्वारा सुख और दुःख देनेवाले हैं तथा आनेजानेवाले और अनित्य हैं । हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन उनको तुम सहन करो ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
मात्रास्पर्शाःsense-contactsतुindeedकौन्तेयO son of Kuntiशीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाःgiving cold-heat, pleasure-painआगमापायिनःcoming and goingअनित्याःimpermanentतान्themतितिक्षस्वendureभारतO Bharata
Read literallysense-contacts · indeed · O son of Kunti · giving cold-heat, pleasure-pain · coming and going · impermanent · them · endure · O Bharata
Understanding the verse
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It trains you to notice discomfort without obeying it, so reaction does not become action.
Built ontitiksha
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Pleasure and pain from the senses are temporary. They come and go, so you should learn to bear them without being shaken.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands frozen while Krishna answers his collapse. After teaching that the self does not die, Krishna turns to the body’s changing experiences and says they are temporary, so Arjuna must endure them.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You get a sharp message, feel your stomach drop, and want to react instantly. The feeling is real, but it does not deserve the steering wheel.
The takeaway
“You do not have to be ruled by every sensation. Calm endurance gives you room to choose wisely.”
It trains you to notice discomfort without obeying it, so reaction does not become action.
What this verse means
Pleasure and pain from the senses are temporary. They come and go, so you should learn to bear them without being shaken.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands frozen while Krishna answers his collapse. After teaching that the self does not die, Krishna turns to the body’s changing experiences and says they are temporary, so Arjuna must endure them.
Why this verse still matters
You get a sharp message, feel your stomach drop, and want to react instantly. The feeling is real, but it does not deserve the steering wheel.
“You do not have to be ruled by every sensation. Calm endurance gives you room to choose wisely.”
Explore related themes: equanimity (23 verses)