Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 12 › Verse 13
Bhagavad Gītā 12.13: Friendly and kind to all
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च ।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī
Meaning
One who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, even-minded in pain and pleasure, and forgiving — the description continues through 12.14, which says such a devotee is dear to Kṛṣṇa.
For children
Krishna describes someone he loves: they don’t hate anyone, they are friendly and kind to everyone, they share, they are not show-offs, and they forgive.
In chapter 12, on devotion, Kṛṣṇa describes the qualities of the person who is dear to him. The sentence continues into 12.14.
Word by word
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां — Not hating any living being
- adveṣṭṛ: one who does not hate
- sarvabhūta: all beings
मैत्रः करुण एव च — friendly and kind
- maitra: friendly
- karuṇa: compassionate, kind
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः — free from “mine” and from pride
- nirmama: free from possessiveness
- nirahaṅkāra: free from ego, humble
समदुःखसुखः क्षमी — steady in joy and sorrow, forgiving
- sama: even, the same
- kṣamin: forgiving, patient
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.