Shloka 9

Devanagari script

सुहन्मित्रार्युदासीनमध्यस्थद्वेष्यबन्धुषु । साधुष्वपि च पापेषु समबुद्धिर्विशिष्यते,सुहृद, मित्र, वैरी, उदासीन, मध्यस्थ, द्वेष्य/४ और बन्धुगणोंमें, धर्मात्माओंमें और पापियोंमें भी समानभाव रखनेवाला” अत्यन्त श्रेष्ठ है

Transliteration

suhṛn-mitrārya-udāsīna-madhyastha-dveṣya-bandhuṣu | sādhuṣv api ca pāpeṣu sama-buddhir viśiṣyate ||

Translation

É considerado especialmente excelente aquele que mantém a mente equânime diante dos bem-intencionados e dos amigos, diante dos nobres e dos indiferentes, diante dos neutros, dos hostis e até dos próprios parentes; e que permanece o mesmo em relação aos virtuosos e aos pecadores.

Word by Word

सुहृत्in (the case of) well-wishers

मित्रin friends

अरिin enemies

उदासीनin the indifferent/neutral

मध्यस्थin mediators/umpires

द्वेष्यin those who are to be hated (the hateful)

बन्धुin relatives/kinsmen

साधुin the virtuous/good

अपिeven/also

चand

पापin the wicked/sinful

समबुद्धिःequal-mindedness

विशिष्यतेis distinguished/excels

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises sama-buddhi—equal-mindedness—as a superior quality: the ability to keep one’s judgment steady and impartial toward friends, enemies, neutrals, relatives, and toward the virtuous and the sinful, without being driven by attachment or aversion.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Bhīṣma Parva’s Gītā context, Arjuna is engaged in a dialogue about right conduct and inner discipline on the battlefield; this verse highlights the ethical ideal of impartiality and mental steadiness amid the tensions of war and personal relationships.