Chapter 14, Verse 25
मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयो: |
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीत: स उच्यते ॥25॥
mānāpamānayos tulyas tulyo mitrāri-pakṣayoḥ |
sarvārambha-parityāgī guṇātītaḥ sa ucyate
"He who is the same under honour and dishonour, who is equally disposed both towards the side of the friend and of the foe, who has renounced all enterprise, -he is said to have gone beyond the qualities."
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 14.25 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 14.25 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
This verse concludes the description of a 'Guṇātīta'—one who has transcended the three modes of material nature (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas). Such a person remains emotionally stable (tulya) regardless of social validation (māna) or insult (apamāna). They exhibit no bias between allies (mitra) and adversaries (ari). Most significantly, they are 'sarvārambha-parityāgī', meaning they have renounced the ego-driven impulse to initiate projects for personal gain, instead acting as an instrument of the Divine. Their peace is not dependent on external circumstances but on their internal alignment with the Self.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 14.25?
He who is the same under honour and dishonour, who is equally disposed both towards the side of the friend and of the foe, who has renounced all enterprise, -he is said to have gone beyond the qualities.