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Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 2 | Verse 57

Chapter 2, Verse 57

Contents of the Gita Summarized

He who is without attachment, who does not rejoice when he obtains good, nor lament when he obtains evil, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.


Verse

यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम्।
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता।।2.57।।


yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehas tat tat prāpya śhubhāśhubham
nābhinandati na dveṣhṭi tasya prajñā pratiṣhṭhitā

Meaning of each word

yaḥ — who;
sarvatra —
in all conditions;
anabhisnehaḥ —
unattached;
tat —
that;
tat —
that;
prāpya —
attaining;
śhubha —
good;
aśhubham —
evil;
na —
neither;
abhinandati —
delight in;
na —
nor;
dveṣhṭi —
dejected by;
tasya —
his;
prajñā —
knowledge;
pratiṣhṭhitā —
is fixed

Interpretation

In life, we often face ups and downs, like good times and bad times. Sometimes we receive good news or achieve something we’ve wanted for a long time, and it makes us very happy. Other times, we might face challenges or losses, and that can make us sad or upset. This verse teaches us about staying calm and steady, no matter what happens around us.

Imagine this: Picture a person who won a big award. They are jumping with joy and celebrating. Now think about someone who just lost something important, perhaps their job. They might feel hopeless and upset.

Now, the teaching here is about someone who sees these situations a bit differently. Whether they receive good news or bad news, they stay calm and collected. They do not get overly excited when things go well, nor do they get too down when things go wrong. This person focuses on a deeper purpose in life instead of getting caught up in the ups and downs.

This clarity comes from being connected to something larger than ourselves, which in the context of this verse is Krishna or a higher spiritual truth. When you are in tune with this deeper understanding, you realize that life is filled with these dualities – happiness and sadness, success and failure, praise and blame. Yet, if your happiness relies solely on what is good or what you achieve, you will swing back and forth like a pendulum between joy and sorrow.

The person described in the verse finds peace in knowing that both good and bad outcomes are part of life. They understand that the external situations don’t define their inner joy or sense of worth. Instead, they focus on their spiritual growth and maintain their cool because their attention is on lasting values, like kindness and goodness, rather than temporary feelings.

In essence, by achieving this mindset, one is considered to be in a state of 'perfect knowledge.' This means they possess a deeper understanding of life and are not disturbed by the changing scenarios. It's like being in the eye of the storm, where things might be chaotic all around, but you remain at peace within.

So, the message from this verse is to cultivate that inner calmness and strength that allows us to face life’s challenges without being shaken by them. It's about being steady and centered, finding joy and stability from within rather than relying on external circumstances.


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