Equal vision is a mark of wisdom.
Krishna speaks to Arjuna
विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि |शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ||५-१८||
vidyāvinayasampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini . śuni caiva śvapāke ca paṇḍitāḥ samadarśinaḥ ||5-18||
Use this verse when ego ranks people by status.
Meaning
The wise see equally a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even one considered an outcaste.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
Wisdom sees the same spiritual essence in all beings.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
This is one of the Gita’s most important equality verses. Krishna teaches sama-darshana, equal vision. It does not deny practical differences in bodies, roles, or capacities, but it sees the same sacred essence in all. This supports compassion, dignity, inclusion, humility, and freedom from arrogance.
Read the traditional commentary
Krishna gives one of the Gita's most radical statements of spiritual equality. The wise (panditah) are sama-darshinah — they see with equal vision a learned and humble Brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even a shvapaka, an outcaste of the lowest social rank. To worldly eyes these are vastly different; to the eye of wisdom they are equal.
The equality is not a denial of outer differences in form, intelligence, or station. Rather, the sage perceives the one changeless Self — the same divine consciousness — dwelling within every being. The body and circumstances differ; the indwelling Reality is identical.
This vision of sameness is the fruit of self-knowledge: once you recognize your own true Self, you cannot help but recognize the same Self everywhere. Such equal-sightedness naturally dissolves prejudice, contempt, and the divisions that fracture human life.
In daily life
Treat every being with dignity, even when roles differ.
A leader should respect office staff, customers, interns, and senior executives with equal human dignity.
Try this today
Show respect today to someone usually overlooked.
I see the same sacred essence in all.Reflect
Where do I still judge worth by status or appearance?
Private — only you can see this
Quick check
What does ‘विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने’ mean in this verse?
Krishna on oneness, in other chapters
- Verse 6.29A harmonized mind sees one Self in all beings and all beings in the Self — the vision of true oneness.
- Verse 7.18All sincere seekers are noble, yet devotion taken to its depth makes the soul one with the Divine itself.
- Verse 9.29Divine grace shines equally on all, like the sun; devotion is simply opening the window to let that ever-present light in.
- Verse 4.24When you see the divine in the doer, the deed, and the offering alike, every act becomes worship and leads to the infinite.
Swipe left for 5.19 · Equanimity aligns the mind with Brahman.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 5.18
Who says Bhagavad Gita 5.18, and to whom?
Krishna speaks to Arjuna in verse 5.18, in Chapter 5, Karma Sannyas Yoga (Karma Sannyas Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 5.18 mean?
The wise see equally a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even one considered an outcaste. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 5.18 for daily life?
Treat every being with dignity, even when roles differ. A leader should respect office staff, customers, interns, and senior executives with equal human dignity.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 5.18 mean?
विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने — endowed with learning and humility; ब्राह्मणे — in a Brahmana; गवि — in a cow; हस्तिनि — in an elephant; शुनि च एव — and in a dog.
Where does verse 5.18 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 18 of 29 in Chapter 5, Karma Sannyas Yoga. The next verse is 5.19.