Chapter 2, Verse 14 (Bhagavad Gita 2.14)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः। आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत
Transliteration
mātrā-sparśhās tu kaunteya śhītoṣhṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ āgamāpāyino ’nityās tans-titikṣhasva bhārata
Word Meanings
mātrā-sparśhāḥ—contact of the senses with the sense objects; tu—indeed; kaunteya—Arjun, the son of Kunti; śhīta—winter; uṣhṇa—summer; sukha—happiness; duḥkha—distress; dāḥ—give; āgama—come; apāyinaḥ—go; anityāḥ—non-permanent; tān—them; titikṣhasva—tolerate; bhārata—descendant of the Bharat
Translation
O son of Kunti, the contact between the senses and their objects creates sensations of cold and heat, pleasure and pain. These experiences are transient, having both a beginning and an end; therefore, O Arjuna, one must learn to endure them with equanimity.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse serves as a profound psychological anchor, teaching us that our emotional upheavals are merely temporary reactions to external stimuli. By recognizing that pleasure and pain are transient phenomena rather than fixed realities, we can detach our inner self from the fluctuations of the environment. True spiritual maturity lies in developing a witness consciousness that observes these dualities without being governed by them. By practicing endurance, we cultivate a steadfast mind that remains calm amidst the inevitable storms of life, ultimately leading to the realization of our unchanging eternal nature.