Bhagavad Gita 2.57 — Neither Rejoicing Nor Hating: Wisdom Firmly Established
यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम्।
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता॥ २.५७॥
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One who is unattached everywhere, who neither rejoices nor hates on meeting whatever is good or bad, has wisdom that is firmly established.
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 |
| sarvatra | everywhere, in all situations |
| anabhisnehaḥ | unattached, without clinging |
| tat tat | this and that, whatever |
| prāpya | having obtained, on meeting |
| śhubhāśhubham | good and bad, pleasant and unpleasant |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| na | neither |
| abhinandati | rejoices, welcomes |
| na | nor |
| dveṣhṭi | hates, despises |
| tasya | his, that person's |
| prajñā | wisdom, understanding |
| pratiṣhṭhitā | firmly established |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| yaḥ | one who | na | neither |
| sarvatra | everywhere, in all situations | abhinandati | rejoices, welcomes |
| anabhisnehaḥ | unattached, without clinging | na | nor |
| tat tat | this and that, whatever | dveṣhṭi | hates, despises |
| prāpya | having obtained, on meeting | tasya | his, that person's |
| śhubhāśhubham | good and bad, pleasant and unpleasant | prajñā | wisdom, understanding |
| pratiṣhṭhitā | firmly established | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
In this verse Lord Krishna extends the picture of the steady-minded person to every circumstance. Whatever good or bad comes their way, they neither rejoice in it nor hate it. Such a person is not attached anywhere, and their wisdom is firmly established. The verse brings out the quality of non-reactivity.
Essence
Sarvatra anabhisneha: unattached everywhere
Lord Krishna says yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehaḥ. The one who is without clinging affection everywhere. The word sneha means attachment or stickiness, literally something like oil that makes things cling. This person is not 'sticky' toward any person, place, or situation.
It is essential to understand what this does not mean. It does not mean coldness or lack of love. Elsewhere in the Gita, Krishna praises compassion and friendship toward all beings. The detachment described here is freedom from possessive clinging, which is quite different from love. In fact, love without possessiveness is purer and more generous.
Neither welcoming nor rejecting
Tat tat prāpya śubhāśubham (on meeting this or that, good or bad): Life constantly brings both favourable and unfavourable events. The ordinary mind greets the good with excitement and the bad with aversion.
Nābhinandati na dveṣṭi (neither rejoices nor hates): The steady person does not celebrate wildly at the good or resent the bad. They accept both with a calm mind. This does not mean they are passive. They can work to improve conditions and avoid harm, but the inner response is balanced.
Tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā (his wisdom is firmly established): This is the refrain that recurs through this section of the Gita. When the mind remains steady between the poles of welcome and rejection, wisdom has taken firm root.
Connection with earlier teaching
This verse reflects verse 38, where Krishna asked Arjuna to treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, and victory and defeat as the same. It also echoes verse 15, in which the person who is not disturbed by the pairs of opposites becomes fit for immortality. The description of the sthitaprajña is a living portrait of the principles the Gita has been teaching.
Message for Everyday Life (Responding Rather Than Reacting)
Our day is full of small gains and losses, compliments and criticisms, and pleasant and unpleasant surprises.
Create a pause: Between event and response, there is a space. Practising a brief pause allows wisdom to choose the response.
Love without gripping: Care for people and things wholeheartedly, while accepting that nothing in this world is permanently ours to control.
Sarvatra anabhisneha: unattached everywhere
Lord Krishna says yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehaḥ. The one who is without clinging affection everywhere. The word sneha means attachment or stickiness, literally something like oil that makes things cling. This person is not 'sticky' toward any person, place, or situation.
It is essential to understand what this does not mean. It does not mean coldness or lack of love. Elsewhere in the Gita, Krishna praises compassion and friendship toward all beings. The detachment described here is freedom from possessive clinging, which is quite different from love. In fact, love without possessiveness is purer and more generous.
Neither welcoming nor rejecting
Tat tat prāpya śubhāśubham (on meeting this or that, good or bad): Life constantly brings both favourable and unfavourable events. The ordinary mind greets the good with excitement and the bad with aversion.
Nābhinandati na dveṣṭi (neither rejoices nor hates): The steady person does not celebrate wildly at the good or resent the bad. They accept both with a calm mind. This does not mean they are passive. They can work to improve conditions and avoid harm, but the inner response is balanced.
Tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā (his wisdom is firmly established): This is the refrain that recurs through this section of the Gita. When the mind remains steady between the poles of welcome and rejection, wisdom has taken firm root.
Connection with earlier teaching
This verse reflects verse 38, where Krishna asked Arjuna to treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, and victory and defeat as the same. It also echoes verse 15, in which the person who is not disturbed by the pairs of opposites becomes fit for immortality. The description of the sthitaprajña is a living portrait of the principles the Gita has been teaching.
Message for Everyday Life (Responding Rather Than Reacting)
Our day is full of small gains and losses, compliments and criticisms, and pleasant and unpleasant surprises.
Create a pause: Between event and response, there is a space. Practising a brief pause allows wisdom to choose the response.
Love without gripping: Care for people and things wholeheartedly, while accepting that nothing in this world is permanently ours to control.
Next Topic
Krishna has said that the person who is unattached and not swayed by good or bad has firm wisdom. He now offers a striking image of how such a person manages the senses. In the next verse He compares the sage to a tortoise withdrawing its limbs on every side, so that the senses are drawn back from their objects.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Don't let the day's mood decide your mind.
Welcome fortune without grasping it.
Meet misfortune without hating it.
Neither high nor low, but steady.
Likes and dislikes are heavy chains.
Wisdom doesn't flinch.
Evenness is the quiet kind of power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'anabhisneha' (unattached) mean?
What does 'śhubhāśhubha' (good and bad) refer to?
What do 'abhinandati' (rejoices) and 'dveṣhṭi' (hates) tell us?
What does 'pratiṣhṭhitā prajñā' (firmly established wisdom) mean?
How is this different from being indifferent?
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