Gold and stone, the same

samaduḥkhasukhaḥ svasthaḥ samaloṣṭāśmakāñcanaḥtulyapriyāpriyo dhīrastulyanindātmasaṃstutiḥ

Alike in pain and pleasure, centred in the Self, seeing clod, stone and gold as one, steady in blame and praise.

What it means

Krishna paints the free person. Steady in pain and pleasure. Svastha, centred in the Self. A lump of earth, a stone and a bar of gold look equal to them. Not that they can't tell the difference, but none of it controls their peace. Blame and praise pass over them alike.

The story

Arjuna has fought for a kingdom full of gold. Krishna describes someone for whom gold has lost its spell. That's not poverty. That's freedom.

In your life

Think of someone who won a big prize and stayed exactly as kind and humble as before. Notice today when something shiny pulls at you. Let it pass.