Chapter 12 · Verse 19

The Yoga of Devotion

तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्मौनी सन्तुष्टो येनकेनचित्।अनिकेतः स्थिरमतिर्भक्ितमान्मे प्रियो नरः

tulya-nindā-stutir maunī santuṣhṭo yena kenachit aniketaḥ sthira-matir bhaktimān me priyo naraḥ

Word Meanings

tulya nindā-stutiḥ maunī santuṣhṭaḥ yena kenachit aniketaḥ sthira matiḥ bhakti-mān me priyaḥ naraḥ

Translation

One who regards blame and praise alike, who is given to silent contemplation, content with whatever comes, without attachment to any dwelling, firm in mind, and full of devotion—that person is dear to me.

Commentary

तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिः to whom censure and praise are eal? मौनी -- silent? सन्तुष्टः contented? येनकेनचित् with anything? अनिकेतः homeless? स्थिरमतिः steadyminded? भक्तिमान् full of devotion? मे to Me? प्रियः dear? नरः (that) man.Commentary He is neither elated by praise nor pained by censure. He keeps a balanced state of mind. He has controlled the organ of speech and so he is silent. His mind also is serene and silent as he has controlled the thoughts also. He is ite content with the bare means of bodily sustenance. It is said in the Mahabharata (Santi Parva? Moksha Dharma) Who is dressed in anything? who eats any kind of food? who lies down anywhere? him the gods call a Brahmana or a liberated sage or Jivanmukta.He does not dwell in one place. He has no fixed abode. He is homeless. He regards the world as his dwelling place. His mind is ever fixed on Brahman. (Cf.VII.17IX.29XII.17)