Chapter 12, Verse 18
सम: शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा मानापमानयो: | शीतोष्णसुखदु:खेषु सम: सङ्गविवर्जित: ॥18॥
samaḥ śhatrau cha mitre cha tathā mānāpamānayoḥ | śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣhu samaḥ saṅga-vivarjitaḥ
"He who is the same towards friend and foe, and so also in honour and dishonour; who is the same under cold, heat, happiness and sorrow, who is free from attachment to everything."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 12.18 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 12.18 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
In this verse, Shree Krishna defines the state of 'Samatva' or equanimity. A true devotee remains mentally undisturbed by the dualities of the material world. This includes social dualities (friend vs. foe, honor vs. dishonor), physical dualities (heat vs. cold), and emotional dualities (pleasure vs. pain). The key to this state is 'Sanga-vivarjitaḥ'—being free from worldly attachments. By rooting their identity in the Divine rather than external circumstances, the devotee achieves a state of constant inner peace, unswayed by the fleeting nature of worldly experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 12.18?
He who is the same towards friend and foe, and so also in honour and dishonour; who is the same under cold, heat, happiness and sorrow, who is free from attachment to everything.