Bhagavad Gita 12.17 — Beyond Elation, Hatred, Grief, and Craving: The Devotee Dear to Me
यो न हृष्यति न द्वेष्टि न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
शुभाशुभपरित्यागी भक्तिमान्यः स मे प्रियः ॥ १२.१७ ॥
🔊 Listen to meaning of this shloka
Current voice: —
Ready
Text-to-speech is not supported by this browser.
One who neither becomes elated nor feels aversion, who neither grieves nor craves, who has renounced attachment to both good and bad outcomes, and who is full of devotion, is dear to Me. Krishna describes a heart that is no longer driven by attraction and aversion, loss and gain, because it rests in devotion.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yaḥ | one who |
| na | neither, nor, not |
| hṛiṣhyati | rejoices, is excited with pleasure |
| dveṣhṭi | hates, feels aversion |
| śhochati | grieves, laments |
| kāṅkṣhati | craves, desires |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| śhubha-aśhubha-parityāgī | one who renounces attachment to both the auspicious and the inauspicious |
| bhaktimān | full of devotion |
| yaḥ | who |
| saḥ | he |
| me | to Me |
| priyaḥ | dear |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yaḥ | one who | śhubha-aśhubha-parityāgī | one who renounces attachment to both the auspicious and the inauspicious |
| na | neither, nor, not | bhaktimān | full of devotion |
| hṛiṣhyati | rejoices, is excited with pleasure | yaḥ | who |
| dveṣhṭi | hates, feels aversion | saḥ | he |
| śhochati | grieves, laments | me | to Me |
| kāṅkṣhati | craves, desires | priyaḥ | dear |
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Here Lord Krishna describes the devotee's emotional freedom. Such a person does not become overjoyed at pleasant events, does not hate what is unpleasant, does not grieve over loss, and does not crave for gain. Having gone beyond the dualities of auspicious and inauspicious, they remain firm in devotion and are dear to the Lord.
Essence
Freedom From the Swings of the Heart
This verse speaks about the most common source of human unrest: emotional reaction to what happens. The mind swings constantly between attraction and aversion, joy and sorrow, craving and loss. Lord Krishna describes a devotee whose inner life has become steady in the midst of these changes.
Na hṛṣyati (neither rejoices excessively): The devotee does not become elated or intoxicated by good fortune. Excessive joy is often followed by a fall, and clinging to pleasure plants the seeds of future sorrow.
Na dveṣṭi (nor hates): There is no hatred toward unpleasant people or situations. They are met with understanding and appropriate action, not resentment.
Na śocati (nor grieves): The devotee does not sink into lamentation over what is lost or has gone wrong. This does not mean lacking feeling or compassion; it means that loss does not break their inner foundation.
Na kāṅkṣati (nor craves): The mind is not continuously chasing the next desired object. Desire loses its power to drive the person.
Śubha-aśubha-parityāgī (renouncing both the auspicious and the inauspicious): The devotee goes beyond identifying with the good and bad results of actions. Both pleasant and unpleasant outcomes are given up as sources of identity, and everything is placed in the Lord's hands.
Bhaktimān (full of devotion): This evenness is not coldness or numbness. It rests on devotion, which gives the heart a stable centre of love that does not depend on changing circumstances.
Equanimity Is Not Emotional Deadness
The devotee still feels, but their feelings do not capture and control them. Emotions pass through like clouds across the sky, without altering the sky itself.
Message for Everyday Life (Riding Out Life's Ups and Downs)
Emotional reactivity drains energy: Fluctuating between excitement and despair makes it hard to think clearly or act wisely.
Practical approach: When you receive good or bad news, pause before reacting and silently acknowledge, 'This too will change.' Allow the feeling to arise and pass without building a story around it. Keep a steady inner anchor, such as prayer, reflection, or gratitude, so that your balance does not depend on outside events.
Freedom From the Swings of the Heart
This verse speaks about the most common source of human unrest: emotional reaction to what happens. The mind swings constantly between attraction and aversion, joy and sorrow, craving and loss. Lord Krishna describes a devotee whose inner life has become steady in the midst of these changes.
Na hṛṣyati (neither rejoices excessively): The devotee does not become elated or intoxicated by good fortune. Excessive joy is often followed by a fall, and clinging to pleasure plants the seeds of future sorrow.
Na dveṣṭi (nor hates): There is no hatred toward unpleasant people or situations. They are met with understanding and appropriate action, not resentment.
Na śocati (nor grieves): The devotee does not sink into lamentation over what is lost or has gone wrong. This does not mean lacking feeling or compassion; it means that loss does not break their inner foundation.
Na kāṅkṣati (nor craves): The mind is not continuously chasing the next desired object. Desire loses its power to drive the person.
Śubha-aśubha-parityāgī (renouncing both the auspicious and the inauspicious): The devotee goes beyond identifying with the good and bad results of actions. Both pleasant and unpleasant outcomes are given up as sources of identity, and everything is placed in the Lord's hands.
Bhaktimān (full of devotion): This evenness is not coldness or numbness. It rests on devotion, which gives the heart a stable centre of love that does not depend on changing circumstances.
Equanimity Is Not Emotional Deadness
The devotee still feels, but their feelings do not capture and control them. Emotions pass through like clouds across the sky, without altering the sky itself.
Message for Everyday Life (Riding Out Life's Ups and Downs)
Emotional reactivity drains energy: Fluctuating between excitement and despair makes it hard to think clearly or act wisely.
Practical approach: When you receive good or bad news, pause before reacting and silently acknowledge, 'This too will change.' Allow the feeling to arise and pass without building a story around it. Keep a steady inner anchor, such as prayer, reflection, or gratitude, so that your balance does not depend on outside events.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has described the devotee who is free from excessive joy, hatred, grief, and craving, and who rises above the pairs of good and bad outcomes. This steadiness extends to every relationship and circumstance. In the next verse, He describes the devotee's equal vision toward friend and foe, honour and dishonour, cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and their freedom from attachment.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Hold success and failure with the same gentle hands.
Contentment begins when craving quiets.
What you release cannot weigh you down.
Freedom lives between attraction and aversion.
Love can remain while clinging fades.
A heart anchored in the Divine does not drift with events.
Emotional maturity is feeling fully without being ruled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'na hṛiṣhyati na dveṣhṭi na śhochati na kāṅkṣhati' (neither rejoices, nor hates, nor grieves, nor craves) mean the devotee is emotionless?
What does it mean not to 'śhochati' (grieve) and not to 'kāṅkṣhati' (crave)?
What does 'śhubha-aśhubha-parityāgī' (one who renounces the auspicious and the inauspicious) mean?
Why is 'bhaktimān' (full of devotion) emphasised here?
How does this verse relate to the preceding verses?
Explore related topics
More shlokas on the themes this verse touches: