Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4 · Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 4.22 यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः
श्लोक 4.22
यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः ।
समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते ॥
yadṛcchālābhasantuṣṭo dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ |
samaḥ siddhāvasiddhau ca kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो अपने आप मिल जाए उसी में संतुष्ट, सुख-दुःख आदि द्वंद्वों से परे, ईर्ष्या से रहित और सफलता-असफलता में समान रहने वाला मनुष्य कर्म करके भी नहीं बंधता।
Meaning in English
Content with whatever comes on its own, beyond the pairs of opposites, free from envy, and balanced in success and failure, such a person is not bound even while acting.
Bhagavad Gita 4.22 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टः | yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭaḥ | content with whatever comes unsought |
| द्वन्द्वातीतः | dvandva-atītaḥ | beyond the pairs of opposites |
| विमत्सरः | vimatsaraḥ | free from envy |
| समः | samaḥ | even-minded |
| सिद्धौ | siddhau | in success |
| असिद्धौ | asiddhau | in failure |
| च | ca | and |
| कृत्वा | kṛtvā | having acted |
| अपि | api | even |
| न | na | not |
| निबध्यते | nibadhyate | is bound |
Explanation
Content with whatever comes to him unsought, beyond the pairs of opposites such as heat and cold or pleasure and pain, free from envy, and even-minded in success and failure, such a person is not bound even when he acts.
The verse gathers several marks of the steady sage from chapter 2: contentment, rising above opposites (2.45) and evenness in success and failure (2.48). Shankara again applies it to the renunciate knower, who accepts what comes for bodily needs without striving. Ramanuja applies it to the karma-yogi. Freedom from envy, vimatsara, is a striking addition: comparing ourselves with others is one of the strongest chains of the mind.
भावार्थ
जो अपने आप मिल जाए उसी में सन्तुष्ट रहता है, सुख-दुःख आदि द्वन्द्वों से परे है, ईर्ष्या से रहित है और सफलता-असफलता में समान रहता है, वह कर्म करके भी नहीं बँधता।
Living it today
Stop measuring your life against others'. Being glad for what comes and steady in failure frees enormous energy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 4.22?
Content with whatever comes to him unsought, beyond the pairs of opposites such as heat and cold or pleasure and pain, free from envy, and even-minded in success and failure, such a person is not bound even when he acts.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.22?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 4 (Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 4.22 in daily life?
Stop measuring your life against others'. Being glad for what comes and steady in failure frees enormous energy.
Reflected on verse 4.22?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.