Bhagavad Gita 2.57 · Krishna
Neither elated nor bitter
यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम्।
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता॥
yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehastattatprāpya śubhāśubhamnābhinandati na dveṣṭi tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
Unattached to everything, meeting good without elation and bad without hatred, such a person's wisdom stands firm.
What it means
The steady person, Krishna says, isn't tied up in things. When good comes, they don't get carried away. When bad comes, they don't turn bitter. Their wisdom, prajna, is firmly established. Not because nothing touches them, but because nothing knocks them over.
The story
Arjuna's whole crisis is a swing of extremes. A moment ago, ready for battle. Now, collapsed. Krishna offers the image of a keel under a boat. Waves still come. The boat stays upright.
In your life
Picture someone getting a glowing review and a rejection on the same afternoon, responding to both with the same quiet thank you. Try it this week. Meet one good thing and one bad thing with the same calm.
Let nothing knock you over.