Bhagavad Gita — Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga, Shloka 24

Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga

Devanagari script

समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः । तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः ॥ १४.२४ ॥

Transliteration

sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ svasthaḥ sama-loṣṭāśma-kāñcanaḥ | tulya-priyāpriyo dhīras tulya-nindātma-saṃstutiḥ || 14.24 ||

Translation

Seimbang dalam duka dan suka, teguh dalam diri; memandang segumpal tanah, batu dan emas sama; yang teguh, baginya yang menyenangkan dan yang tidak menyenangkan adalah setara; setara dalam celaan dan pujian diri.

Gita Press Meaning

Equal in pain and pleasure, self-possessed; regarding a clod, a stone, and gold alike; the steady one to whom the pleasant and unpleasant are the same; equal in blame and praise.

Critical Edition Meaning

Even-minded in suffering and happiness, inwardly stable; regarding a lump of earth, a stone, and gold as the same; for whom the agreeable and disagreeable are equal—steadfast; for whom censure and self/personal praise are equal.

Comparative Note

“Loṣṭa–aśma–kāñcana” is a standard triad for value-neutrality toward objects. “Ātma-saṃstuti” is sometimes translated as “praise of oneself” or “praise directed to him”; context supports the sense of being unaffected by commendation.

Word by Word

• समदुःखसुखः: one who is equal in sorrow and happiness
• Root: सम-दुःख-सुख (प्रातिपदिक)

• स्वस्थः: self-possessed; steady in oneself
• Root: स्वस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)

• समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः: to whom a clod, a stone, and gold are the same
• Root: सम-लोष्ट-अश्म-काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)

• तुल्यप्रियाप्रियः: equal toward the pleasant and the unpleasant
• Root: तुल्य-प्रिय-अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)

• धीरः: the steadfast/wise person
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)

• तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुतिः: to whom censure and self-praise (praise of oneself) are equal
• Root: तुल्य-निन्दा-आत्म-संस्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Samatva (equanimity)
• Vairāgya (dispassion)
• Dhīra (steadfast person)

Key Themes

• Value-neutrality toward objects
• Emotional balance
• Independence from social evaluation

FAQs

Psychological significance?

It depicts reduced hedonic reactivity: pleasure and pain are experienced but do not dominate decision-making. Social feedback (praise/blame) also loses its power to destabilize.

Metaphysical meaning?

Equanimity is presented as a sign of disidentification from guṇa-driven valuation. The steady person relates to phenomena without construing them as ultimately defining the self.

Contextual relevance?

This verse expands the portrait of the guṇātīta with concrete examples—objects of value and social responses—showing how transcendence appears in ordinary life.

Modern Application?

It supports practices of non-attachment: keep ethical priorities steady despite gains/losses and approval/disapproval, and cultivate reflective distance from consumerist or status-driven valuation.