Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 6 · Dhyana Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 6.9 सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु
श्लोक 6.9
सुहृन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु ।
साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते ॥
suhṛnmitrāryudāsīnamadhyasthadveṣyabandhuṣu |
sādhuṣvapi ca pāpeṣu samabuddhirviśiṣyate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
जो शुभचिंतक, मित्र, शत्रु, उदासीन, मध्यस्थ, द्वेष करने वाले और संबंधियों को, तथा सज्जनों और पापियों को भी समान बुद्धि से देखता है, वह सबसे श्रेष्ठ है।
Meaning in English
Most excellent is the one who looks with an equal mind upon well-wishers, friends, foes, the indifferent, the neutral, the hateful and relatives, and upon the virtuous and the sinful alike.
Bhagavad Gita 6.9 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सुहृत् | suhṛt | towards the well-wisher |
| मित्र | mitra | the friend |
| अरि | ari | the foe |
| उदासीन | udāsīna | the indifferent |
| मध्यस्थ | madhyastha | the impartial mediator |
| द्वेष्य | dveṣya | the hateful |
| बन्धुषु | bandhuṣu | and towards relatives |
| साधुषु | sādhuṣu | towards the virtuous |
| अपि च | api ca | and even |
| पापेषु | pāpeṣu | towards the wicked |
| समबुद्धिः | sama-buddhiḥ | one of equal mind |
| विशिष्यते | viśiṣyate | excels |
Explanation
One who keeps an equal mind towards well-wishers, friends and foes, towards the indifferent and the impartial, towards those who are hateful and those who are kin, and even towards the virtuous and the wicked, stands out above all. His judgement is no longer bent by liking or dislike.
The previous verse showed equality towards things; this one extends it to people, which is far harder. The first line is a single long compound listing every kind of relationship. Shankara distinguishes the suhṛt, who helps without expecting anything in return, from the mitra, a friend through affection, and the madhyastha, who wishes well to both sides of a quarrel. Equal mind does not mean equal treatment or approval of wrongdoing; commentators read it as freedom from attraction and hatred, so that judgement is not bent by personal feeling.
भावार्थ
जो सुहृद, मित्र, शत्रु, उदासीन, मध्यस्थ, द्वेष करने वाले और बन्धुओं में, तथा सज्जनों और पापियों में भी समान बुद्धि रखता है, वह श्रेष्ठ है। उसकी दृष्टि राग-द्वेष से नहीं बिगड़ती।
Living it today
Pick one person you find difficult and, for a day, simply wish them well in your mind. Fairness starts with dropping the inner grudge.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 6.9?
One who keeps an equal mind towards well-wishers, friends and foes, towards the indifferent and the impartial, towards those who are hateful and those who are kin, and even towards the virtuous and the wicked, stands out above all. His judgement is no longer bent by liking or dislike.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 6.9?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 6 (Dhyana Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 6.9 in daily life?
Pick one person you find difficult and, for a day, simply wish them well in your mind. Fairness starts with dropping the inner grudge.
Reflected on verse 6.9?
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