Bhagavad Gita 10.5 · Krishna
Praise and blame, one root
अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः।
भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः॥
ahiṃsā samatā tuṣṭistapo dānaṃ yaśo’ayaśaḥbhavanti bhāvā bhūtānāṃ matta eva pṛthagvidhāḥ
Non-harm, evenness, contentment, discipline, generosity, honour and dishonour. These many states of beings arise from me alone.
Words
- ahiṃsā
- tapas
What it means
The list continues. Ahimsa, non-harm, comes first. Then evenness, contentment, tapas, the discipline that refines us, and generosity. Even fame and disgrace appear. Every quality, bright or painful, springs from one source. Seeing that helps us hold praise and blame more lightly.
The story
The Pandava brothers knew honour at court, then public disgrace at a rigged game of dice, then years of exile in the forest. Arjuna has tasted both extremes. Krishna tells him that even these swings come from the same deep source.
In your life
A small bakery owner gets a glowing review in the morning and a harsh one by lunch. Both sit in the same inbox. This week, when praise or blame arrives, take one slow breath before you answer.
Hold praise lightly. Hold blame lightly too.