The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
विद्याविनयसंपन्नेendowed with learning and humilityब्राह्मणेin a brahminगविin a cowहस्तिनिin an elephantशुनिin a dogचandएवindeedश्वपाकेin an outcasteचandपण्डिताःthe wiseसमदर्शिनःequal-seeing
Read literallyendowed with learning and humility · in a brahmin · in a cow · in an elephant · in a dog · and · indeed · in an outcaste · and · the wise · equal-seeing
Understanding the verse
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A learned brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and an outcaste: the wise see one reality in each.
A truly wise person does not rank living beings by status, species, or social position. The same reality is seen in all of them.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
After teaching the clear vision of the true self, Krishna shows what that vision looks like in daily perception: a wise person sees the same reality in a learned brahmin, an animal, and someone society rejects.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You walk past a hospital corridor, a luxury lobby, and a street corner in the same hour. The outer labels change fast; this verse asks whether your seeing changes at all.
The takeaway
“Respect becomes effortless when you stop sorting beings into higher and lower.”
A truly wise person does not rank living beings by status, species, or social position. The same reality is seen in all of them.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 5.18?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Sanyasa Yoga" (The Yoga of Renunciation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 5.18?
Verse 18 sits in Chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Sanyasa Yoga, "The Yoga of Renunciation". The chapter has 29 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 5.18 matter today?
You walk past a hospital corridor, a luxury lobby, and a street corner in the same hour. The outer labels change fast; this verse asks whether your seeing changes at all.
A learned brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and an outcaste: the wise see one reality in each.
What this verse means
A truly wise person does not rank living beings by status, species, or social position. The same reality is seen in all of them.
Context & commentary
After teaching the clear vision of the true self, Krishna shows what that vision looks like in daily perception: a wise person sees the same reality in a learned brahmin, an animal, and someone society rejects.
What it looks like today
You walk past a hospital corridor, a luxury lobby, and a street corner in the same hour. The outer labels change fast; this verse asks whether your seeing changes at all.
“Respect becomes effortless when you stop sorting beings into higher and lower.”