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
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||
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||
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||
Having restrained all the senses, even-minded everywhere, intent on the welfare of all beings verily they also come unto Me.