Chapter 12, Verse 13
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च | निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ||१२-१३||
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca . nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ||12-13||
Meaning
12.13 He who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate to all, who is free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
From here to the chapter's end, Krishna paints a portrait of the soul who is dear to Him — and in doing so, shows what genuine devotion produces in character. The first strokes concern our relation to others: hating no creature (adveṣṭā), friendly (maitraḥ) and compassionate (karuṇaḥ) to all. Devotion that is real overflows as kindness.
Then come the inner marks: freedom from "mine" (nirmamaḥ) and from "I" (nirahaṅkāraḥ), evenness in pleasure and pain (sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ), and patient forgiveness (kṣamī). These qualities are not mere ethics added to faith; they flow naturally from a heart that has surrendered ego and rests in God. Love of the Divine and love of all beings are one current.
💡 Key Takeaway
True devotion shows itself as freedom from ego and warmth toward every living being.
Related Verses
अर्जुन उवाच | एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते | ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ||१२-१||
arjuna uvāca . evaṃ satatayuktā ye bhaktāstvāṃ paryupāsate . ye cāpyakṣaramavyaktaṃ teṣāṃ ke yogavittamāḥ ||12-1||
12.1 Arjuna said Those devotees who, ever steadfast, thus worship Thee and those also who worship the imperishable and the unmanifested which of them are better versed in Yoga?
श्रीभगवानुवाच | मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते | श्रद्धया परयोपेताः ते मे युक्ततमा मताः ||१२-२||
śrībhagavānuvāca . mayyāveśya mano ye māṃ nityayuktā upāsate . śraddhayā parayopetāḥ te me yuktatamā matāḥ ||12-2||
12.2 The Blessed Lord said Those who, fixing their mind on Me, worship Me, ever steadfast and endowed with supreme faith, are the best in Yoga in My opinion.
सन्नियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र समबुद्धयः | ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव सर्वभूतहिते रताः ||१२-४||
sanniyamyendriyagrāmaṃ sarvatra samabuddhayaḥ . te prāpnuvanti māmeva sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ ||12-4||
12.4 Having restrained all the senses, even-minded everywhere, intent on the welfare of all beings verily they also come unto Me.