Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 17

Chapter 12 – Bhakti Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः ॥

Transliteration

yo na hṛṣyati na dveṣṭi na śocati na kāṅkṣati .
śubhāśubhaparityāgī bhaktimānyaḥ sa me priyaḥ ॥

Meaning

One who neither rejoices nor hates, neither grieves nor craves, and renounces both good and evil, a person full of devotion, is dear to Me.

Word meanings

यः – who
न हृष्यति – does not rejoice
न द्वेष्टि – does not hate
न शोचति – does not grieve
न काङ्क्षति – does not crave
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी – renouncer of good and evil
भक्तिमान् – full of devotion
सः मे प्रियः – he is dear to Me

Anvaya (word order)

यः न हृष्यति, न द्वेष्टि, न शोचति, न काङ्क्षति, शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान् (अस्ति), सः मे प्रियः ।

Explanation

In this verse four reactions are negated: no joy, no hate, no grief, no craving, and finally a comprehensive renunciation, shubhashubha-parityagi. The four can be seen as the principal reactions of the mind which drive our whole cycle of pleasure and pain.

Shankara explains them thus: the elation upon getting what is liked is harsha; the resentment upon getting what is disliked is dvesha; the pain at separation from the liked is shoka; and the wish for the liked thing not yet obtained is akanksha. Through these four a person swings on the swing of pleasure and pain. The devotee who is not carried away by them is like a rock standing in a flood.

Shubhashubha-parityagi means beyond attachment to the fruits of both good and evil, merit and demerit. The devotee does give up evil, but he is not bound even to good, since pride in good deeds or craving for their fruits can also become a bondage. According to Shankara the devotee rises above enjoyment of the fruits of good and evil actions. For Ramanuja the bonds of both merit and demerit are destroyed for him.

Along with all this the Lord places the word bhaktiman, so all this renunciation is not dry dispassion. Its root is devotion, and devotion rests on love. He is above the four reactions because his mind is satisfied in another taste.

From the verse we learn that the result of devotion is not suppression of feelings but mastery over them. The devotee is sensitive but not unstable.

Context

Verses 12.15-16 described the dear devotee's conduct, freedom from disturbances and other qualities. Here is freedom from four reactions, and 12.18-19 will give more marks of evenness.

Life lesson

When you start being swept by joy or anger, grief or desire, pause and notice that this wave comes and goes. Learn to watch it as a witness; that is the start of the steadiness that comes with devotion.

Key terms

शुभाशुभपरित्यागी: one who goes beyond attachment to good and bad outcomes
भक्तिमान्: one filled with true devotion
काङ्क्षा: craving for the unattained
शोक: grief at loss of what was gained