A core teaching · reflective in mood · a little context helps
“Equal vision toward all people marks the highest steadiness.”
The one whose understanding is equal toward friend, enemy, neutral person, mediator, hateful person, relative, the virtuous, and the sinful is श्रेष्ठ.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallywell-wisher · friend · enemy · indifferent · mediator · hateful · among relatives · among the virtuous · also · and · among the sinful · equal understanding · is श्रेष्ठ
A calm, even-minded person does not get pulled by labels like friend, enemy, good, or bad. That balanced understanding is considered best.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Dhyana Yoga" (The Yoga of Meditation).
Verse 9 sits in Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita — Dhyana Yoga, "The Yoga of Meditation". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
A village sarpanch must settle a dispute between his own cousin and a man who once cheated him. Krishna's standard asks for the same even judgment toward both, relative or rival, good or bad.
Did you like this verse?
Friend, enemy, neutral, relative, saint or sinner: whoever sees them with an even mind stands out among yogis.
What this verse means
A calm, even-minded person does not get pulled by labels like friend, enemy, good, or bad. That balanced understanding is considered best.
Context & commentary
Krishna keeps teaching Arjuna how a steady meditator sees the world. After describing mastery over the mind and senses, he says the highest balance is to look on all people without bias.
What it looks like today
A village sarpanch must settle a dispute between his own cousin and a man who once cheated him. Krishna's standard asks for the same even judgment toward both, relative or rival, good or bad.
“You stop being manipulated by preference and aversion, and that gives real inner freedom.”
Explore related themes: equanimity (23 verses)