yo na hṛiṣhyati na dveṣhṭi na śhochati na kāṅkṣhati
śhubhāśhubha-parityāgī bhaktimān yaḥ sa me priyaḥ
yaḥ — who;
na — neither;
hṛiṣhyati — rejoice;
na — nor;
dveṣhṭi — despair;
na — neither;
śhochati — lament;
na — nor;
kāṅkṣhati — hanker for gain;
śhubha-aśhubha-parityāgī — who renounce both good and evil deeds;
bhakti-mān — full of devotion;
yaḥ — who;
saḥ — that person;
me — to me;
priyaḥ — very dear
This verse talks about the qualities of a true devotee, someone who is very close to the Supreme Lord. It explains how such a person reacts to life's ups and downs.
Imagine a person who receives good news, like a promotion at work, and instead of jumping for joy, they simply smile and continue with their day. Now, think about the same person receiving bad news, like failing a test or losing something valuable. Instead of crying or feeling miserable, they stay calm and try to find a solution. This ability to remain steady—whether in happiness or sorrow—is what this verse is about.
The devotee doesn’t get overly excited about good things or too upset about bad things. They don’t cling to their desires either. For instance, they don’t desperately wish for something like having children or getting recognition from others. If these things happen, great; if not, they accept it without sadness.
When they lose something important, like a beloved item or a relationship, they don’t mourn excessively. Instead of wallowing in their loss, they find a way to move forward. Similarly, if they want something and it doesn’t come to them, they don’t get anxious or distressed. They understand that life has its ups and downs and that this is all part of existence.
Additionally, this devotee doesn't judge actions or results as simply 'good' or 'bad'. Whether an action seems fortunate or unfortunate doesn’t matter much to them; they are focused on their devotion and service to the Supreme Lord. They are willing to take risks or face challenges just to please Him.
In essence, this verse highlights that such a devotee is not easily disturbed by the world's events. They are calm in all situations, fully devoted, and do not allow external occurrences to disrupt their connection with the Supreme Lord. This steadfast nature makes them very dear to Him. They exemplify the idea of remaining composed amidst the chaos of life.