Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 15

Chapter 12 – Bhakti Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः ।
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः ॥

Transliteration

yasmānnodvijate loko lokānnodvijate ca yaḥ .
harṣāmarṣabhayodvegairmukto yaḥ sa ca me priyaḥ ॥

Meaning

He by whom the world is not agitated and who is not agitated by the world, and who is free from joy, intolerance, fear and anxiety, he too is dear to Me.

Word meanings

यस्मात् – from whom
लोकः – the world, people
न उद्विजते – is not agitated
लोकात् – by the world
यः च – and who
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैः – by joy, impatience, fear and anxiety
मुक्तः – free
सः च – he too
मे प्रियः – is dear to Me

Anvaya (word order)

यस्मात् लोकः न उद्विजते, यः च लोकात् न उद्विजते, यः हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैः मुक्तः, सः च मे प्रियः ।

Explanation

Among the portraits of the dear devotee, this one is perhaps the most quietly profound. "He from whom the world does not shrink, and who does not shrink from the world, who is free from joy, intolerance, fear and agitation, he too is dear to Me." There is a two-way quality in this verse: the devotee does not trouble the world, and the world does not trouble him.

The first half, "yasman nodvijate loko", describes the effect that such a person has on others. People feel safe around him. They are not afraid of his anger, his criticism or his manipulation. His presence is like a quiet room: no one needs to prepare their defences. Compare this with a person who is always judging or exploding; the entire household walks on tiptoe. A devotee in the Gita's sense becomes a source of peace to others.

The second half, "lokan nodvijate ca yah", describes his own inner state. He is not shaken by the behaviour of the world. People may be rude, the market may be volatile, news may be disturbing, and yet he remains centred. This is not insensitivity, since the previous verse has already given compassion; it is rather the strength of one whose peace does not depend on external events.

The verse closes by naming four disturbances from which he is free: harsha, the excitement of joy that tends to cause losses; amarsha, intolerance or irritation at others' success or conduct; bhaya, fear; and udvega, general anxiety or agitation. Notice that joy, too, is listed as a disturbance. The mind that rises in excitement will fall in depression; the devotee holds the middle, a calm gladness.

Shankara explains that he is the sannyasin who gives no cause of fear to any being, since he offers them freedom from fear, and who is not afraid of any being, since he sees all as himself. Ramanuja mentions that such a devotee is neither afraid of the world nor feared by it, because he has no selfish aims. Madhva stresses that his peace arises from knowing the Lord as the ruler of all.

In daily life, the verse suggests two practical checks: "How do people feel after being with me?" and "How do I feel after being with the world?" One who wishes to grow can work at both: speak less sharply, listen more, and cultivate a balance that does not rise or fall with every report. See also 2.56 to 2.58 on the one of steady wisdom, and 5.28 on freedom from desire, fear and anger.

Context

Verses 12.13-14 gave the general qualities of the devotee. This verse describes his conduct toward the world and freedom from four mental disturbances; more marks follow in 12.16.

Life lesson

Do not frighten or hurt anyone by your words and behaviour, and do not lose your own peace because of others' reactions. This is the sign of inner steadiness.

Key terms

उद्वेग: agitation, anxiety, disturbance
हर्ष: elation that throws the mind off balance
अमर्ष: intolerance, resentment at others' success
भय: fear