Content with whatever comes by itself, beyond opposites, free from envy, equal in success and failure, such a person is not bound even while acting.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 4.22
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो कर्मयोगी फल की इच्छा के बिना, अपनेआप जो कुछ मिल जाय, उसमें सन्तुष्ट रहता है और जो ईर्ष्यासे रहित, द्वन्द्वोंसे अतीत तथा सिद्धि और असिद्धिमें सम है, वह कर्म करते हुए भी उससे नहीं बँधता ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
यदृच्छा-लाभ-सन्तुष्टःcontent with spontaneous gainद्वन्द्व-अतीतःbeyond pairs of oppositesविमत्सरःfree from envyसमःequalसिद्धि-असिद्धौin success and failureचandकृत्वा अपिeven while doingनnotनिबध्यतेis bound
Read literallycontent with spontaneous gain · beyond pairs of opposites · free from envy · equal · in success and failure · and · even while doing · not · is bound
Understanding the verse
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Content with what comes on its own and free of envy, a person stays unbound in the middle of work.
A person who is satisfied with whatever comes naturally, stays calm through ups and downs, and does not envy others remains free even while working.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna keeps refining karma yoga for Arjuna, who is frozen by the weight of consequences: act, but do not let gain, loss, praise, or envy chain the mind. This verse names the inner freedom that makes action clean.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
Your neighbour's son gets into a better college than yours, and the comparison comes up at every cup of tea. Krishna's freedom includes being free of envy and steady through success and failure, so you can congratulate them and mean it.
The takeaway
“Freedom grows when success and failure stop controlling your mood.”
A person who is satisfied with whatever comes naturally, stays calm through ups and downs, and does not envy others remains free even while working.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.22?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga" (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 4.22?
Verse 22 sits in Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita — Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga, "Knowledge and Renunciation of Action". The chapter has 42 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 4.22 matter today?
Your neighbour's son gets into a better college than yours, and the comparison comes up at every cup of tea. Krishna's freedom includes being free of envy and steady through success and failure, so you can congratulate them and mean it.
Content with what comes on its own and free of envy, a person stays unbound in the middle of work.
What this verse means
A person who is satisfied with whatever comes naturally, stays calm through ups and downs, and does not envy others remains free even while working.
Context & commentary
Krishna keeps refining karma yoga for Arjuna, who is frozen by the weight of consequences: act, but do not let gain, loss, praise, or envy chain the mind. This verse names the inner freedom that makes action clean.
What it looks like today
Your neighbour's son gets into a better college than yours, and the comparison comes up at every cup of tea. Krishna's freedom includes being free of envy and steady through success and failure, so you can congratulate them and mean it.
“Freedom grows when success and failure stop controlling your mood.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), vairagya (51 verses), samatva (13 verses)