यं हि न व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ ।
समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते ॥
समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
कारण कि हे पुरुषोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन सुखदुःखमें सम रहनेवाले जिस धीर मनुष्यको ये मात्रास्पर्श पदार्थ व्यथित सुखीदुःखी नहीं कर पाते, वह अमर होनेमें समर्थ हो जाता है अर्थात् वह अमर हो जाता है ॥
English
The wise person who is not shaken by these, and remains equal in pain and pleasure, becomes fit for freedom.
What this verse means
A steady person who stays even through pleasure and pain is not thrown off by changing experiences and becomes ready for inner freedom.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is still reeling from grief and confusion. Krishna has already said the body changes and sensations pass. Now he shows the next step: the person who stays even through pleasure and pain is the one ready for freedom.
Why this verse still matters
Your phone lights up with bad news, then a compliment, then another crisis. The mind jerks in every direction. This verse asks for a steadier center that does not collapse with each swing.
The takeaway
You do not need to be ruled by every high and low. Steadiness itself becomes strength.
Word-by-word translation
यम् (whom) / हि (indeed) / न (not) / व्यथयन्ति (disturb) / एते (these) / पुरुषम् (person) / पुरुषर्षभ (best among men) / समदुःखसुखम् (equal in pain and pleasure) / धीरम् (steadfast one) / सः (that one) / अमृतत्वाय (for immortality) / कल्पते (is fit)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga — The Yoga of Knowledge, which contains 72 verses.
Explore related themes: equanimity (23 verses)