Chapter 12, Verse 19 (Bhagavad Gita 12.19)
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yog – The Yoga of Devotion
Sanskrit Shloka
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येनकेनचित्।अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्ितमान्मे प्रियो नरः
Transliteration
tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣhṭo yena kenachit aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ
Word Meanings
tulya—alike; nindā-stutiḥ—reproach and praise; maunī—silent contemplation; santuṣhṭaḥ—contented; yena kenachit—with anything; aniketaḥ—without attachment to the place of residence; sthira—firmly fixed; matiḥ—intellect; bhakti-mān—full of devotion; me—to me; priyaḥ—very dear; naraḥ—a person
Translation
He to whom censure and praise are equal, who is silent, content with anything, homeless, of a steady mind, and full of devotion; that man is dear to Me.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Bhagwan Shri Krishna delineates the marks of a supreme devotee who has transcended the dualities of the material world. By remaining equanimous amidst praise and blame, the devotee mirrors the stability of the eternal Brahman, detaching themselves from the ephemeral opinions of society. Shri Krishna emphasizes that such a soul, by being 'homeless'—meaning unattached to bodily identification or material abodes—finds their true home within the lotus feet of the Lord. This state of consciousness, characterized by steady wisdom and unwavering bhakti, is the ultimate goal of human life. Ultimately, Shri Krishna declares that such a surrendered soul becomes eternally precious to Him, marking the path to supreme liberation.