📿 Shloka Collection

Samaduhkhasukhah Svasthah

Gita 14.24 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 14 — Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः ।
तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः ॥
Samaduhkhasukhah svasthah samaloshtashmakanchangah
Tulyapriyapriyo dhiras tulyanindatma-samstutih
समदुःखसुखः
equal in joy and sorrow
स्वस्थः
established in the Self
समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः
seeing a lump of earth, a stone, and gold as equal
तुल्यप्रियाप्रियः
equal toward the pleasant and unpleasant
धीरः
steady / firm in understanding
तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः
equal in blame and praise

The gunatita treats happiness and sorrow with the same even gaze. A lump of earth, a stone, and a bar of gold hold the same value in their eyes. Praise does not inflate them. Blame does not deflate them. They are dhira — firm and stable in understanding.

This does not mean they are emotionless or detached from the world. The key word is "svastha" — situated in the Self. Their centre of gravity is within. When your sense of who you are rests on something eternal and unchanging, the ups and downs of external life lose their power to destabilize you.

"Svastha" is a remarkable word. It literally means "situated in one's own Self" — sva (self) + stha (established). In everyday Hindi, svastha means healthy. The Gita is suggesting that true health is self-abidance. When a person is anchored within, they are naturally steady, naturally well.

This shloka and the next one (14.25) together paint the complete outer portrait of the gunatita. These qualities closely parallel the sthitaprajna described in Gita 2.56-57, showing a consistent vision across the text.

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