ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśhyati yo ’rjuna
sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ sa yogī paramo mataḥ
ātma-aupamyena — similar to oneself;
sarvatra — everywhere;
samam — equally;
paśhyati — see;
yaḥ — who;
arjuna — Arjun;
sukham — joy;
vā — or;
yadi — if;
vā — or;
duḥkham — sorrow;
saḥ — such;
yogī — a yogi;
paramaḥ — highest;
mataḥ — is considered
In this verse from the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains what it means to be a true yogi. A perfect yogi is someone who understands that all beings, just like himself, go through both happy and sad times. They see everyone as equal, regardless of their circumstances.
To put it simply, a yogi recognizes that when others are happy or in pain, it's similar to how he himself feels in those situations. Think about your own life: when something good happens to a friend, you share in their joy, and when they face difficulties, you feel sorry for them. A perfect yogi extends this feeling to everyone.
Krishna emphasizes that a person who is aware of their relationship with God has a deeper understanding of happiness and suffering. Many people face distress because they forget about this connection with God. Happiness, on the other hand, comes when we realize that God, or Krishna, is at the center of all joy and activities in life. Just like Krishna owns the entire universe, when we acknowledge Him and our relationship with Him, we can find true happiness.
The perfect yogi is not selfish. Instead of just focusing on their own personal growth or happiness, they genuinely wish to help others. They recognize that everyone experiences challenges due to their connection with the material world, which can cause suffering. By being in Krishna consciousness—the awareness of God’s presence—such a yogi feels joy and makes it their mission to share this knowledge with others.
This is where the yogi becomes a true humanitarian. They think not just of themselves but of the well-being of everyone else. Krishna highlights that a devotee, someone who sincerely cares for others based on their connection to God, is someone who earns the title of the best yogi. Their compassion and desire to help leads to them becoming the kind of friend who truly cares for others, wanting both their own and others’ welfare.
In contrast, a yogi who focuses only on themselves might isolate themselves and meditate without considering the needs of others around them. By actively working to guide others towards understanding Krishna, the devotee showcases that the essence of yoga is not just personal achievements but also fostering connections and love towards all living beings. Therefore, true yoga is about seeing everyone equally, supporting them in both their struggles and joys, and recognizing our shared relationship with God, which ultimately leads to a sense of community, understanding, and peace.