One who hates no being, is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, equal in pleasure and pain, and forgiving.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 12.13
Hindi · हिन्दी
सब प्राणियोंमें द्वेषभावसे रहित, सबका मित्र प्रेमी और दयालु, ममतारहित, अहंकाररहित, सुखदुःखकी प्राप्तिमें सम, क्षमाशील, निरन्तर सन्तुष्ट, योगी, शरीरको वशमें किये हुए, दृढ़ निश्चयवाला मेरेमें अर्पित मनबुद्धिवाला जो मेरा भक्त है, वह मेरेको प्रिय है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
अद्वेष्टाfree from hatredसर्वभूतानांof all beingsमैत्रःfriendlyकरुणःcompassionateएवindeedचandनिर्ममःwithout possessivenessनिरहङ्कारःwithout egoसमदुःखसुखःequal in pain and pleasureक्षमीforgiving
Read literallyfree from hatred · of all beings · friendly · compassionate · indeed · and · without possessiveness · without ego · equal in pain and pleasure · forgiving
Understanding the verse
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It shifts devotion from ritual alone to a transformed way of relating to every person and every feeling.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
A devoted person does not hate anyone, treats everyone as a friend, stays compassionate, and does not cling to possessions or ego. Such a person remains steady through joy and sorrow and forgives easily.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield at Kurukshetra, Arjuna is still frozen by grief. Krishna answers not with strategy, but with the character of a true devotee: one who has no hatred, no possessiveness, no ego, and no inner swing between pleasure and pain.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
Someone cuts you off in traffic, and the old heat rises instantly. This verse asks for a different reflex: no hatred, no inflated self, no need to keep score.
The takeaway
“You can be strong without being hard. Softness, steadiness, and forgiveness are signs of real devotion.”
Explore related themes: bhakti(69 verses), ahankara(10 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 12.13 mean?
A devoted person does not hate anyone, treats everyone as a friend, stays compassionate, and does not cling to possessions or ego. Such a person remains steady through joy and sorrow and forgives easily.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 12.13?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Bhakti Yoga" (The Yoga of Devotion).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 12.13?
Verse 13 sits in Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita — Bhakti Yoga, "The Yoga of Devotion". The chapter has 20 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 12.13 matter today?
Someone cuts you off in traffic, and the old heat rises instantly. This verse asks for a different reflex: no hatred, no inflated self, no need to keep score.
It shifts devotion from ritual alone to a transformed way of relating to every person and every feeling.
What this verse means
A devoted person does not hate anyone, treats everyone as a friend, stays compassionate, and does not cling to possessions or ego. Such a person remains steady through joy and sorrow and forgives easily.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield at Kurukshetra, Arjuna is still frozen by grief. Krishna answers not with strategy, but with the character of a true devotee: one who has no hatred, no possessiveness, no ego, and no inner swing between pleasure and pain.
Why this verse still matters
Someone cuts you off in traffic, and the old heat rises instantly. This verse asks for a different reflex: no hatred, no inflated self, no need to keep score.
“You can be strong without being hard. Softness, steadiness, and forgiveness are signs of real devotion.”
Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses), ahankara (10 verses)