Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 12, verse 13 · Krishna
Bhagavad Gita 12.13 · Adveshta Sarva Bhutanam
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च ।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca |
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ||
Translation
One who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, balanced in pain and pleasure, and forgiving —
Explanation
The opening of the Gita’s portrait of the ideal devotee (12.13–20). Devotion is measured not by ritual but by character: kindness, humility and equanimity.
Context
Spoken by Krishna in chapter 12, Bhakti Yoga — “The Yoga of Devotion”, which has 20 verses.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 12.13 mean?
One who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, balanced in pain and pleasure, and forgiving —
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 12.13?
Krishna, speaking to Arjuna, in chapter 12, Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion).
Sanskrit text: traditional, public domain. Translation and explanation are our own.