Bhagavad Gita 12.15 — One Who Neither Disturbs the World Nor Is Disturbed by It
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः ।
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः ॥ १२.१५ ॥
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One by whom no one is agitated, who is not agitated by anyone, and who is free from elation, resentment, fear, and anxiety, is dear to Me. The devotee lives in such harmony with the world that neither causes disturbance to others nor is thrown off balance by them.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yasmāt | from whom, by whom |
| na | not |
| udvijate | is agitated, is disturbed, feels distress |
| lokaḥ | people, the world |
| lokāt | by people, by the world |
| cha | and |
| yaḥ | who |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| harṣha-amarṣha-bhaya-udvegaiḥ | from elation, resentment, fear, and anxiety |
| muktaḥ | free, liberated |
| yaḥ | who |
| saḥ | he |
| cha | and |
| me | to Me |
| priyaḥ | dear |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yasmāt | from whom, by whom | harṣha-amarṣha-bhaya-udvegaiḥ | from elation, resentment, fear, and anxiety |
| na | not | muktaḥ | free, liberated |
| udvijate | is agitated, is disturbed, feels distress | yaḥ | who |
| lokaḥ | people, the world | saḥ | he |
| lokāt | by people, by the world | cha | and |
| cha | and | me | to Me |
| yaḥ | who | priyaḥ | dear |
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
This verse describes a remarkable two-way peace. The devotee dear to Lord Krishna is one who causes no distress to others and who is not disturbed by others, and who stays free from excitement, resentment, fear, and anxiety. It is a picture of a person who is a source of calm in the world.
Essence
A Presence That Does Not Disturb
This verse presents a beautiful reciprocity. The devotee does not disturb the world, and the world does not disturb the devotee. Such a person moves through life like a calm lake that neither churns up turbulence in others nor is rippled by outside storms.
Yasmān nodvijate loko (the one by whom the world is not agitated): The devotee's speech, behaviour, and attitude do not cause fear, pain, or anxiety in others. People feel safe and at ease in their presence. This is a high standard, since it requires that anger, arrogance, and carelessness have been tempered by compassion.
Lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ (and who is not agitated by the world): Equally, the devotee is not thrown off balance by the world's provocations, criticisms, or disturbances. Others may behave badly, but the devotee's inner calm does not depend on them behaving well.
Harṣa-amarṣa-bhaya-udvegaiḥ muktaḥ (free from elation, resentment, fear, and anxiety): Four inner disturbances are named. Harṣa is excited joy, often a reaction to someone else's loss or to personal gain. Amarṣa is irritation or intolerance, the resentment that arises when things do not go our way. Bhaya is fear. Udvega is general mental agitation or anxiety. Freedom from these four is a mark of a settled mind.
Why Peace Is Contagious
A mind that is at peace naturally becomes a gift to everyone else. Just as one anxious person can unsettle a whole room, one calm person can steady it. The devotee's inner discipline thus becomes a quiet service to society.
Message for Everyday Life (Being a Calming Presence)
We shape the atmosphere around us: In families and workplaces, the mood of one person can strongly influence everyone else.
Practical approach: Before speaking or responding, pause and ask whether your words will add calm or agitation. At the same time, practise not letting the moods of others control your own. Take a few slow breaths when provoked and respond rather than react. Over time, you become someone others feel safe and steady around.
A Presence That Does Not Disturb
This verse presents a beautiful reciprocity. The devotee does not disturb the world, and the world does not disturb the devotee. Such a person moves through life like a calm lake that neither churns up turbulence in others nor is rippled by outside storms.
Yasmān nodvijate loko (the one by whom the world is not agitated): The devotee's speech, behaviour, and attitude do not cause fear, pain, or anxiety in others. People feel safe and at ease in their presence. This is a high standard, since it requires that anger, arrogance, and carelessness have been tempered by compassion.
Lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ (and who is not agitated by the world): Equally, the devotee is not thrown off balance by the world's provocations, criticisms, or disturbances. Others may behave badly, but the devotee's inner calm does not depend on them behaving well.
Harṣa-amarṣa-bhaya-udvegaiḥ muktaḥ (free from elation, resentment, fear, and anxiety): Four inner disturbances are named. Harṣa is excited joy, often a reaction to someone else's loss or to personal gain. Amarṣa is irritation or intolerance, the resentment that arises when things do not go our way. Bhaya is fear. Udvega is general mental agitation or anxiety. Freedom from these four is a mark of a settled mind.
Why Peace Is Contagious
A mind that is at peace naturally becomes a gift to everyone else. Just as one anxious person can unsettle a whole room, one calm person can steady it. The devotee's inner discipline thus becomes a quiet service to society.
Message for Everyday Life (Being a Calming Presence)
We shape the atmosphere around us: In families and workplaces, the mood of one person can strongly influence everyone else.
Practical approach: Before speaking or responding, pause and ask whether your words will add calm or agitation. At the same time, practise not letting the moods of others control your own. Take a few slow breaths when provoked and respond rather than react. Over time, you become someone others feel safe and steady around.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has shown that the devotee dear to Him neither disturbs the world nor is disturbed by it, remaining free from elation, resentment, fear, and anxiety. This inner freedom also affects how the devotee approaches worldly pursuits. In the next verse, He describes a devotee who is free from expectation, pure, skilful, and unburdened in action.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Be the kind of person whose presence calms a room.
Neither the world's praise nor its pressure should steer your heart.
A quiet mind is a gift to everyone around it.
What is surrendered cannot haunt you.
The mind rests when it stops bracing for tomorrow.
Do no harm and be harmed by no one's mood.
True freedom is being untroubled in the midst of everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'yasmān na udvijate lokaḥ' (the world is not agitated by him) mean?
What does 'lokān na udvijate' (he is not agitated by the world) mean?
What are 'harṣha' (elation), 'amarṣha' (resentment), 'bhaya' (fear), and 'udvega' (anxiety)?
Does this mean the devotee is passive or unfeeling?
How can this verse help in modern life?
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